THE 


POETICAL    WORKS 


JOHN     SKELTON 


PRINCIPALLY   ACCORDING   TO    THE   EDITION 


REV.    ALEXANDER    DYCE. 


IN    THREE     VOLUMES. 


VOLUME     I. 


BOSTON: 

LITTLE,   BROWN  AND   COMPANY. 

NEW  YORK  :  BLAKEMAN  AND  SIASON. 

CINCINNATI:  RICKEY  AND  CARROLL. 

M.DCCC.LXII. 


154156 


RIVERSIDE,    CAMBRIDOK: 
PRINTED  BY  II.  O.  HOUGHTON  A.ND  COMPANY. 


STEREOTYPED    BY   STO.NE   A.\D   SMART. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

The  Poems  of  Skelton  are  here  reprinted 
^from  the  excellent  edition  prepared  by  the  Rev. 
j?  Alexander  Dyce.  The  various  readings  of  .the 
^text  have  in  general  been  omitted,  the  space 
s-  which  they  occupy  being  out  of  proportion  to  the 
^advantage  derived  from  them  by  most  renders. 
=The  latest  improvements  made  by  Mr.  Dyce  have 
^received  proper  attention.  A  very  small  num- 
^ber  of  his  notes  have  been  abridged,  or  dropped 
-•^as  superfluous  ;  about  as  many  have  been  added, 
''or  enlarged,  and  a  few  have  been  altered,  —  it  is 


,  for  the  better. 
The  American  editor  is  responsible,  wholly  or 
in  part,  for  those  annotations  which  are  marked 
with  an  asterisk. 
CAMBRIDGE,  July,  1855. 


PREFACE. 


THE  very  incomplete  and  inaccurate  volume  of 
1736,  and  the  reprint  of  it  in  Chalmers's  English 
Poets,1  1810,  have  hitherto  been  the  only  editions 
of  Skelton  accessible  to  the  general  reader. 

In  1814,  the  Quarterly  Reviewer, — after  cen- 
suring Chalmers  for  having  merely  reprinted  the 
volume  of  1736,  with  all  its  errors,  and  without 


1  "  Mr.  A.  Chalmers,' :  says  Haslewood,  "  has  since  given 
place  [sic]  to  Skelton's  name  among  the  English  poets  [vol.  ii. 
p.  227] :  and  having  had  an  opportunity  to  compare  the  ori- 
ginal edition  [that  of  Marshe,  1568]  with  Mr.  Chalmers's  vo- 
lume, I  can  pronounce  the  text  verbally  accurate,  although 
taken  from  the  reprint  of  1736."  Biit.  Bibliogr.  iv.  389.  As 
Haslewood  was  generally  a  careful  collator,  I  am  greatly  sur- 
prised at  the  above  assertion :  the  truth  is,  that  the  reprint  of  ' 
1736  (every  word  of  which  I  have  compared  with  Marshe's 
edition — itself  replete  with  errors)  is  in  not  a  few  places 
grossly  inaccurate. — The  said  reprint  is  without  the  editor's 
name;  but  I  have  seen  a  copy  of  it  in  which  Gifford  had 
written  with  a  pencil,  "  Edited  by  J.  Bowie,  the  stupidest  of 
all  two-legged  animals.'' 


Vl  PREFACE. 

the  addition  of  those  other  pieces  by  Skelton  which 
were  known  to  be  extant, — observed,  that  "  an 
editor  who  should  be  competent  to  the  task  could 
not  more  worthily  employ  himself  than  by  giv- 
ing a  good  and  complete  edition  of  his  works."  l 
Prompted  by  this  remark,  I  commenced  the  pre- 
sent edition, — perhaps  with  too  much  self-conii- 
dence,  and  certainly  without  having  duly  estimated 
the  difficulties  which  awaited  me.  After  all  the 
attention  which  I  have  given  to  the  writings  of 
Skelton,  they  still  contain  corruptions  which  defy 
my  power  of  emendation,  and  passages  which  I  am 
unable  to  illustrate ;  nor  is  it,  therefore,  without 
a  feeling  of  reluctance  that  I  now  offer  these  vo- 
lumes to  the  very  limited  class  of  readers  for 
whom  they  are  intended.  In  revising  my  Notes 
for  press,  I  struck  out  a  considerable  portion  of 
conjectures  and  explanations  which  I  had  origin- 
ally hazarded,  being  unwilling  to  receive  from  any 
one  that  equivocal  commendation  which  Joseph 
Scaliger  bestowed  on  a  literary  labourer  of  old  ; 
"  Laudo  tamen  studium  tuum ;  quia  in  rebus 
obscuris  ut  errare  necesse  est,  ita  fortuitum  non 


enure. 


Having  heard  that  Ritson  had  made  some  col- 
1  lections  for  an  edition  of  our  author,  I  requested 

1  Q.  Rev.  xi.  485.     The  critique  in  question  was  written  by 
Mr.  Southey, — who,  let  me  add,  took  a  kind  interest  in  the 
progress  of  the  present  edition. 

2  Joanni  Isacio  Pontano — Epist.  p.  490.  ed.  1627. 


PREFACE.  Vii 

the  use  of  those  papers  from  his  nephew,  the  late 
Joseph  Frank,  Esq.,  who  most  obligingly  put 
them  into  my  hands :  they  proved,  however,  to 
be  only  a  transcript  of  Vox  Populi,  vox  Dei  (from 
the  Harleian  MS.)  and  a  few  memoranda  con- 
cerning Skelton  from  very  obvious  sources. 

The  individual  to  whom  I  have  been  the  most 
indebted  for  assistance  and  encouragement  in  this 
undertaking  has  not  survived  to  receive  my  ac- 
knowledgments ;  I  mean  the  late  Mr.  Heber,  who 
not  only  lent  me  his  whole  collection  of  Skelton's 
works,  but  also  took  a  pleasure  in  communicating 
to  me  from  time  to  time  whatever  information  he 
supposed  might  be  serviceable.  Indeed,  without 
such  liberality  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Heber,  a  com- 
plete edition  of  the  poet's  extant  writings  could 
not  have  been  produced;  for  his  incomparable 
library  (now  unfortunately  dispersed)  contained 
some  pieces  by  Skelton,  of  which  copies  were  not 
elsewhere  to  be  found. 

To  Miss  Richardson  Currer ;  the  Right  Hon. 
Thomas  Grenville;  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  G.  N. 
Grenville,  Master  of  Magdalene  College,  Cam- 
bridge ;  Sir  Harris  Nicolas ;  Sir  Francis  Palgrave ; 
Rev.  Dr.  Bandinel ;  Rev.  Dr.  Bliss ;  Rev.  John 
Mitford  ;  Rev.  J.  J.  Smith  of  Caius  College,  Cam- 
bridge; Rev.  Joseph  Hunter;  Rev.  Joseph  Ste- 
venson ;  W.  H.  Black,  Esq. ;  Thomas  Amyot, 
Esq. ;  J.  P.  Collier,  Esq. ;  Thomas  Wright,  Esq.  ; 
J.  0.  Halliwell,  Esq. ;  Albert  Way,  Esq. ;  and 


David  Laing,  Esq. ; — I  have  to  return  my  grate- 
ful thanks  for  the  important  aid  of  various  kinds 
which  they  so  readily  and  courteously  afforded  me. 

ALEXANDER  DYCE. 
London,  Gray's  Inn, 
Nov.  1st,  1843 


CONTENTS 

OF  VOLUME  I. 

Page 
ADVERTISEMENT iii 

PREFACE v 

SOME  ACCOUNT  OF  SKELTON  AND  HIS  WRITINGS  . .       xiii 

APPENDIX  I. 

Merie  Tales  of  Skelton,  and  Notices  of  Skelton 
from  various  sources Ixix 

APPENDIX  II. 

List  of  Editions,  &c cviii 

APPENDIX  III. 

Extracts  from  pieces  which  are  written  in,  or 
which  contain  examples  of,  the  metre  called 
Skeltonical ...  cxxiii 

Of  the  death  of  the  noble  prince,  Kynge  Edwarde  the 

Forth 3 

Poeta  Skelton  laureatus  libellum  suum  metrice  alloquitur  . .  8 

Vpon  the  doulourus  dethe  and  muche  lamentable  chaiince 

of  the  most  honorable  Erie  of  Northumberlande  . .  8 

Tetrastichon  ad  Magistrum  Rukshaw 18 


X  CONTENTS. 

Page 
Agaynste  a  comely  coystrowne,  that  curyowsly  chawn- 

tyd,  and  curryshly  cowntred,  &c 19 

Contra  alium  cantitantem  et  organisantem  asinum,  &c 22 

Vppon  a  deedmans  bed,  that  was  sent  to  hym  from  an 

honorable  jentyllwoman  for  a  token,  &c 23 

"  Womanhod,  wanton,  ye  want,"  &c 25 

DTUEES  BALETTYS  AND  DYTIES  SOLACYOUS: — 

"  My  darlyng  dere,  my  daysy  floure,"  &c 27 

"  The  auncient  acquaintance,  madam,  betwen  vs 

twayn,"  &c 28 

"  Knolege,  aquayntance,  resort,  fauour  with  grace," 

&c , 31 

"  Cuncla  licet  cecidisse  putas  discrimina  rerum,"  &c.  .  33 

"  Though  ye  suppose  all  jeperdys  ar  paste,"  &c.  ...  33 

"  Go,  pytyous  hart,  rasyd  with  dedly  wo,"  &c 33 

Manerly  Margery  Mylk  and  Ale , 35 

^-K'   The  Bowge  of  Courte 37    v 

1'hyllyp  Sparowe 61 

7^  The  tunnyng  of  Elynour  Eummyng 109 

Poems  against  Garnesche 132 

Against  venemous  tongues,  &c 154 

How  euery  thing  must  haue  a  tyme 160 

Prayer  to  the  Father  of  Heauen 162 

To  the  Seconde  Parson 163 

To  the  Holy  Gooste 163 

"  Woffully  araid,"  &c 165 

"  Now  synge  we,  as  we  were  wont,"  &c 168 

"  I,  liber,  etpropera,  regem  tupronus  odbra,"  &c 172 

Ware  the  Hauke 173 

Epitaplie.    A  Deuoute  Trentahfor  old  John  Clarke,  &c. ..  187 


CONTENTS.  XI 

Page 

"  Diligo  j-ustincum  cum  porta.nl,"  &c 194 

Lamentatio  urbis  Nordcen 194 

In  Bedel,  &c 195 

"  Hanc  tolo  transcribas,"  &c 196 

"  lyitur  quid  sunt  qui  mala  cunctafremunt"  &c 196 

"  Salve  plus  decies  quam  sunt  momenta  dierum,"  &c 197 

Henrici  Septimi  Epitaphium 198 

Eulogiumpro  suontm  temporum  conditione,  tantis  principi- 

bus  non  indignum 199 

Tttrastichon  veritatis 201 

Against  the  Scottes 202 

Vnto  diuers  people  that  remord  this  rymynge,  &c 209 

Chorus  de  Dis  contra  Scottos,  &c 211 

Chorus  de  Dis,  &c.  super  triumphali  victoria  contra  Gallos, 

&c..f 212 

Vilitisslmus  Scotus  Dundas  dttegat  caudas  contra  Anglige- 

nas 213 

Eltgia  in  Margareta  nuper  comilissa  de  Derby  funebre  mi- 

nisterium  : 217 

Why  were  ye  Cattle  embrawdred  with  letters  of  golde  ?  219 

Cur  tibi  contexta  esl  aurea  Calliope  ? 220 

The  Boke  of  Three  Fooles 221 

A  replycacion  agaynst  certayne  yong  scolers  abiured  of 

late,  &c • 230 


SOME   ACCOUNT 


SKELTON  AND  HIS  WRITINGS. 


JOHN  SKELTON1  is  generally  said  to  have  been 
descended  from  the  Skeltons  of  Cumberland  ;2  but 
there  is  some  reason  to  believe  that  Norfolk  was 
his  native  county.  The  time  of  his  birth,  which 
is  left  to  conjecture,  cannot  well  be  carried  back 
to  an  earlier  year  than  1460. 


1  Sometimes  written  Schelton :  and  Blomefield  says,  "  That 
his  Name  was  Sheltonor  Skelton,  appears  from  his  Successor's 
Institution,  viz.  '  1529,  17  July,  Thomas  Clerk,  instituted  on 
the  Death  of  John  Shelton,  last  Rector  [Lib.  Inst.  No.  18.] '  " 
Hist,  of  Norfolk,  i.  20.  ed.  1739. 

2  "  John  Skelton  was  a  younger  branch  of  the  Skeltons  of 
Skelton  in  this  County  [Cumberland].    I  crave  leave  of  the 
Reader,  (hitherto  not  having  full  instructions,  and)  preserving 
the  undoubted  Title  of  this  County  unto  him,  to  defer  his 
character  to  Norfolk,  where  he  was  beneficed  at  Diss  therein." 
Fuller's    Worthies,  p.  221  (Cumberland),  ed.  1662.      "John 
Skelton  is  placed  in  this  County  [Norfolk]  on  a  double  proba- 
bility.   First,  because  an  ancient  family  of  his  name  is  emi 


XIV  SOME   ACCOUNT    OF 

[The  following  entry  pertaining  to  a  John  Skel- 
ton  was  discovered  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Black  in  the 
Public  Record  Office.] 

23d  Feb.  12  Edw.  iv.  [1473].  "  Tribus  subdericis,  videlicet 
Roberto  Lane,  Nicholao  Neubold,  et  Johanni  Skelton,  videlicet 
praedicto  Koberto  l.s.  et  praedictis  Nicholao  et  Johanni  cuilibet 
eorum  xl.s."  (A  like  payment  was  made  to  John  Skeltm  on 
the  9th  of  Dec.  preceding,  when  he  is  mentioned  with  others 
under  the  general  denomination  of  clerksj  Books  of  the 
Treasury  of  the  Receipt  of  the  Exchequer, — A  4.  38.  fols.  26, 27, 
(Public  Record  Office.) 

There  is,  Mr.  Black  thinks,  a  possibility  that 
Skelton  had  been  employed,  while  a  youth,  as  an 
under-clerk  in  the  Receipt  of  the  Exchequer ;  and 
he  observes,  that  it  would  seem  to  have  been  a 
temporary  occupation,  as  there  is  no  trace  of  any 
person  of  that  name  among  the  admissions  to  offi- 
ces in  the  Black  Book. 

nently  known  long  fixed  therein.  Secondly,  because  he  was 
beneficed  at  Dis,"  &c.  Id.  p.  257  (Norfolk).—"  John  Skelton 
....  was  originally,  if  not  nearly,  descended  from  the  Skel- 
tons  of  Cumberland."  Wood's  Ath.  Oxon.  i.  49.  ed.  Bliss. 
See  also  Tanner's  Biblioth.  p.  675.  ed.  1748. — "  I  take  it,  that 
Skelton  was  not  only  Rector,  but  a  Native  of  this  Place  [Diss], 
being  son  of  William  Skelton,  and  Margaret  his  Wife,  whose 
Will  was  proved  at  Norwich,  Nov.  7, 1612  [Regr.  Johnson]." 
Blomefield's  Hist,  of  Norfolk,  i.  20.  ed.  1739.  Through  the 
active  kindness  of  Mr.  Amyot,  I  have  received  a  copy  of  the 
Will  of  William  Skelton  (or  Shelton,)  who,  though  perhaps  a 
relation,  was  surely  not  the  father  of  the  poet ;  for  in  this  full 
and  explicit  document  the  name  of  John  Skelton  does  not 
once  occur.— From  an  entry  which  will  be  afterwards  cited, 
it  would  scorn  that  the  Christian  name  of  Skelton's  mother 


SKELTON   AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  XV 

The  statement  of  his  biographers,  that  he  was 
educated  at  Oxford,1 1  am  not  prepared  to  contra- 
dict: but  if  he  studied  there,  it  was  at  least  after 
he  had  gone  through  an  academical  course  at  the 
sister  university  ;  for  he  has  himself  expressly  de- 
clared, 

"Alma  parens  0  Cantabrigensis, 

.     .     .     tibi  quondam  cams  alumnus  eram ;" 

adding  in  a  marginal  note,  "  Can  tab  rig  ia  Skelton- 
idi  laureate  primam  mamraam  eruditionis  pientis- 
sime  propinavit."2  Hence  it  is  probable  that  the 
poet  was  the  "  one  Scheklton,"  who,  according  to 
Cole,  became  M.  A.  at  Cambridge  in  1484.8 

was  Johanna. — In  Skelton's  Latin  lines  on  the  city  of  Nor- 
wich (see  vol.  i.  194)  we  find, 

"Ah  decus,  ah  patrics  specie  pulcherrima  dudum ! 
Urbs  Norvicensis,"  &c. 

Does  "patHa"  mean  his  native  county? 

1  "  Having  been  educated  in  this  university,  as  Joh.  Baleus 
attests."     Wood's  Ath.  Oxon.  i.  50.  ed.  Bliss*.     Wood's  refer- 
ence in  the  note  is  "  In  lib.  De  Scriptoribus  Anglicis,  MS.  inter 
cod.  MSS.     Selden,  in  bib.  Bodl.  p.  69  b."     The  printed  copy 
of  Bale's  work  contains  no  mention  of  the  place  of  Skelton's 
education.     Part  of  Bale's  information  concerning  Skelton, 
as  appears  from  the  still  extant  MS.  collections  for  his  Script. 
Illust.  Brit.,  was  received   "  Ex  Guilhelmo   Herman,"   the 
author  of  the  Vulgaria. — See  also  Tanner's  Bibliolh.  p.  676. 
ed.  1748.— Warton  says  that   Skelton  "  studied  in  both  our 
universities."    Hist,  of  E.  P.  ii.  336.  ed.  4to. 

2  A  Replycacion,  &c.  vol.  i.  231. 

8  "  Wood  reckons  him  of  Ox.  on  the  author,  of  Bale  in  a 
MS.  in  the  Bodleian  Libr.,  but  with  much  better  reason  he 


XVI  SOME    ACCOUNT    OF 

Of  almost  all  Skelton's  writings  which  have 
descended  to  our  times,  the  first  editions 1  have 
perished  ;  and  it  is  impossible  to  determine  either 
at  what  period  he  commenced  his  career  as  a  poet, 
or  at  what  dates  his  various  pieces  were  origin- 
ally printed.  That  he  was  the  author  of  many 
compositions  which  are  no  longer  extant,  we  learn 
from  the  pompous  enumeration  of  their  titles  in 
the  Garlande  of  Laurell.2  The  lines,  Of  the  death 
of  the  noble  prince,  Kynge  Edwarde  the  forth? 
who  deceased  in  1483,  were  probably  among  his 
earliest  attempts  in  verse. 

In  1489  Skelton  produced  an  elegy  Vpon  the 
doulourus  dethe  and  muche  lamentable  chaunce  of 


may  be  called  ours ;  for  I  find  one  Scheklton  M.  A.  in  the 
year  1484,  at  which  time  allowing  him  to  be  24  years  of  age, 
he  must  be  at  his  death  A.  D.  1629,  68  or  69  years  old,  which 
'tis  probable  he  might  be.  v.  Bale  653."  Cole's  Collections, — 
Add.  MSS.  (Brit.  Mus.)  5880,  p.  199. 

1 1  suspect  that,  during  Skelton's  lifetime,  two  of  his  most 
celebrated  pieces,  Colyn  Cloule  (see  v.  1239,  vol.  ii.  167,)  and 
Why  come  ye  nat  to  Courte,  were  not  committed  to  the  press, 
but  wandered  about  in  manuscript  among  hundreds  of  eager 
readers.  A  portion  of  Speke,  Parrot,  and  the  Poems  Against 
Garnesche,  are  now  for  the  first  time  printed. 

2  Vol.  ii.  221  sqq.  No  poetical  antiquary  can  read  the  titles 
of  some  of  the  lighter  pieces  mentioned  in  that  catalogue, — 
such  as  The  Balade  of  the  Mustarde  Tarte,  The  Murnyng  of 
the  mapely  rote  (see  Notes,  vol.  iii  343,)  &c.— without  regretting 
their  loss.  "  Many  of  the  songs  or  popular  ballads  of  this 
time,"  observes  Sir  John  Hawkins,  "  appear  to  have  been 
written  by  Skelton."  Hist,  of  Mudc,  iii.  39. 

«  Vol  i.  3. 


SKELTON    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  XVII 

the  most  honorable  Erie  of  Nortliumberlande*  who 
was  slain  during  a  popular  insarrection  in  York- 
shire. His  son  Henry  Algernon  Percy,  the  fifth 
earl,  who  is  there  mentioned  as  the  "  yonge  lyon, 
but  tender  yet  of  age,"  2  appears  to  have  afterwards 
extended  his  patronage  to  the  poet : 3  at  a  time  when 
persons  of  the  highest  rank  were  in  general  grossly 
illiterate,  this  nobleman  was  both  a  lover  and  a 
liberal  encourager  of  letters. 

Skelton  had  acquired  great  reputation  as  a  scho- 
lar, and  had  recently  been  laureated  at  Oxford,4 
when  Caxton,  in  1490,  published  The  boke  of 
Eneydos  complyed  by  Vyrgyle,5  in  the  Preface  to 

iVol.  i.  8:  see  Notes,  vol.  iii.  7. 

2  He  was  only  eleven  years  old  at  his  father's  death.    See 
more   concerning  the  fifth  earl  in  Percy's  Preface  to  The 
Northumberland  Household  Book,  1770,  in  VVarton's  Hist,  of 
E.  P.  ii.  338.  ed.  4to,  and  in  Collins's  Peerage,  ii.  304.  ed. 
Brydges. — Warton  says  that  the  Earl  "  encouraged  Skelton 
to  write  this  elegy,"  an  assertion  grounded,  I  suppose,  on  the 
Latin  lines  prefixed  to  it. 

3  A  splendid  MS.  volume,  consisting  of  poems  (chiefly  by 
Lydgate),  finely  written  on  vellum,  and  richly  illuminated, 
which  formerly  belonged  to  the  fifth  earl,  is  still  preserved  in 
the  British  Museum,  MS.  Reg.  18.  D  ii  :  at  fol.  165  is  Skel- 
ton's  Elegy  on  the  earl's  father. 

*  For  a  notice  of  Skelton's  laureatiou  at  Oxford,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Bliss  obligingly  searched  the  archives  of  that  university, 
but  without  success:  "  no  records,"  he  informs  me,  "  remain 
between  1463  and  1498  that  will  give  a  correct  list  of  de- 
grees." 

6  This  work  (a  thin  folio),  translated  by  Caxton  from  the 
French,  is  a  prose  romance  founded  on  the  ^Eneid.  It  con- 
sists of  65  chapters,  the  first  entitled  "  How  the  ryght  puys- 
VOL.  I.  B 


xviii  SOME  ACCOUNT  OF 

which  is  the  following  passage :  rt  But  I  praye 
mayster  John  Skelton,  late  created  poete  laureate 
in  the  vnyuersite  of  oxenforde,  to  ouersee  and  cor- 
recte  this  sayd  booke.  And  taddresse  and  expowne 
where  as  shalle  be  founde  faulte  to  theym  that 
shall  requyre  it.  For  hym  I  knowe  for  suffy- 
cyent  to  expowne  and  englysshe  etiery  diffyculte 
that  is  therin.  For  he  hath  late  translated  the 
epystlys  of  Tulle,1  and  the  boke  of  dyodorus  sycu- 
lus,2  and  diuerse  other  werkes  oute  of  latyn  in  to 

sant  knyge  pryamus  edyfyed  the  grete  Cyte  of  Troye,"  the 
last,  "  How  Ascanyus  helde  the  royalme  of  Ytalye  after  the 
dethe  of  Eneas  hys  fader."  Gawin  Douglas,  in  the  Preface 
to  his  translation  of  Virgil's  poem,  makes  a  long  and  elaborate 
attack  on  Caxton's  performance; 
"  Wylliame  Caxtoun  had  no  compatioun 

Of  Virgill  in  that  buk  he  preyt  in  prois, 

Clepand  it  Virgill  in  Eneados, 

Quhilk  that  he  sayis  of  Frensche  he  did  translate; 

It  has  na  thing  ado  therwith,  God  wate, 

Nor  na  mare  like  than  the  Deuil  and  sanct  Austin,1'  &c. 

Sig.  B  iii.  ed.  1553. 

1  A  work  probably  never  printed,  and  now  lost :  it  is  men- 
tioned by  Skelton  in  the  Garlande  of  Laurett; 

"  Of  Tullis  Familiars  the  translacyoun."      vol.  ii.  222. 

2  A  work  mentioned  in  the  same  poem ; 
"  Dlodorus  Siculus  of  my  translacyon 

Out  of  fresshe  Latine  into  owre  Englysshe  playne, 
Recountyng  commoditis  of  many  a  straunge  nacyon; 
Who  redyth  it  ones  wolde  rede  it  agayne; 
Sex  volumis  engrosid  together  it  doth  containe." 

vol.  ii.  237. 

It  is  preserved  in  Ms.  at  Cambridge :  see  Appendix  II.  to  this 
Memoir. 


SKELTON   AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  xx 

englysshe,  not  in  rude  and  olde  langage,  but  in 
polysshed  and  ornate  termes  craftely,  as  he  that 
hath  redde  vyrgyle,  ouyde,  tullye,  and  all  the 
other  noble  poetes  and  oratours,  to  me  vnknowen  : 
And  also  he  hath  redde  the  ix.  muses  and  vnder- 
stande  theyr  musicalle  scyences,  and  to  whom  of 
theym  eche  scyence  is  appropred.  I  suppose  he 
hath  dronken  of  Elycons  well.  Then  I  praye 
hym  &  suche  other  to  correcte  adde  or  mynysshe 
where  as  he  or  they  shall  fynde  faulte,"  1  Sec. 
The  laureatship  in  question,  however,  was  not  the 
office  of  poet  laureat  according  to  the  modern  ac- 
ceptation of  the  term :  it  was  a  degree  in  gram- 
mar, including  rhetoric  and  versification,  taken  at 
the  university,  on  which  occasion  the  graduate 
was  presented  with  a  wreath  of  laurel.2  To  this 
academical  honour  Skelton  proudly  alludes  in  his 
fourth  poem  Against  Garnesche  ; 

"  A  kyng  to  me  myn  habyte  gaue : 
At  Oxforth,  the  vniversyte, 

1  Sig.  A  ii. 

2  For  more  about  poet  laureat,  both  in  the  ancient  and, 
modern  acceptation,  see  Selden's  Titles  of  Honor,  p.  405.  ed. 
1631;  the  Abbe"  du  Resnel's  Recherches  sur  les  Poetes  Couron- 
nez, — Hist. de TAcad.  des  Inscript.  (Mem.  de  Litterature, )  x.  507 ; 
Warton's  Hist,  of  E.  P.  ii.  129.  ed.  4to;  Malone's  it/e  o/ Dry. 
den,  (Prose  Works,)  p.  78;  Devon's  Introd.  to  Issue  Roll  of 
Thomas  de  Brantingham,  p.  xxix.,  and  his  Introd.  to  Issues  of 
the  Exchequer,  &c.,  p.  xiii. — Churchyard,  in  his  verses  pro 
fixed  to  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Wbrkes,  1568,  says, 

"  Nay,  Skelton  wore  the  lawrell  wreath, 

And  past  in  schoels,  ye  knoe." 
See  Appendix  I.  to  this  Memoir. 


XX  SOME    ACCOUNT    OF 

Auaunsid  I  was  to  that  degre; 
By  hole  consent  of  theyr  senate, 
I  was  made  poete  lawreate."  1 

Our  laureat,  a  few  years  after,  was  admitted  ad 
eundem  at  Cambridge:  "An.  Dom.  1493,  et  Hen. 
7  nono.  Conceditur  Johi  Skelton  Poete  in  parti- 
bus  transmarinis  atque  Oxon,  Laurea  ornato,  ut 
apud  nos  eadem  decoraretur ; "  again,  "An.  1504-5, 
Conceditur  Johi  Skelton,  Pbetae  Laureat.  quod 
possit  stare  eodem  gradu  hie  quo  stetit  Oxoniis, 
et  quod  possit  uti  habitu  sibi  concesso  a  Principe." 
Warton,  who  cites  both  these  entries,2  remarks, 
"  the  latter  clause,  I  believe,  relates  to  some  dis- 
tinction of  habit,  perhaps  of  fur  or  velvet,  granted 
him  by  the  king."  There  can  be  no  doubt  that 
Skelton  speaks  of  this  peculiar  apparel  in  the  lines 
just  quoted,  as  also  in  his  third  poem  Against 
Garnesche,  where  he  says, 

"  Your  sworde  ye  swere,  I  wene, 

So  tranchaunt  and  so  kene, 

Xall  kyt  both  wyght  and  grene : 

Your  foly  ys  to  grett 

The  kynges  colours  to  threte ;  "  8 

1  Vol.  i.  149. 

2  Sisl.  ofE.  P.  5i.  130,  (note,)  ed.  4to.— The  second  entry 
was  printed  in  1736  by  the  Abbe"  du  Resnel  (who  received  it 
from  Carte  the  historian,)  in  RechercJies  sur  ks  Poetes  Couron- 
nez,— IIist.de  fAcad.  des  Inscript.  (Mem.  de  Literature,)  x.  522. 
Both  entries  were  given  in  1767  by  Farmer  in  the  second  edi- 
tion of  his  Essay  on  Ihe  Learning  of  Shakespeare,  p.  60. — The 
Rev.  Joseph  Romilly,  registrar  of  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge, has  obligingly  ascertained  for  me  their  correctness. 

9  Vol.  i.  144. 


SKELTON    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  XXI 

from  which  we  may  infer  that  he  wore,  as  laureat, 
a  dress  of  white  and  green,  or,  perhaps,  a  white 
dress  with  a  wreath  of  laurel.  It  was  most  pro- 
bably on  some  part  of  the  same  habit  that  the 
word  Calliope  was  embroidered  in  letters  of  silk 
and  gold : 

"  Calliope, 
As  ye  may  se, 
Regent  is  she 

Of  poetes  al, 
Whiche  gaue  to  me 
The  high  degre 
Laureat  to  be 

Of  fame  royall ; 
Whose  name  enrolde 
With  silke  and  golde 
I  dare  be  bolde 

Thus  for  to  were,'1 *  &c. 

In  the  following  passage  Barclay  perhaps 
glances  at  Skelton,  with  whom  (as  will  afterwards 
be  shewn)  he  was  on  unfriendly  terms ; 

"  But  of  their  writing  though  I  ensue  the  rate, 
No  name  I  chalenge  of  Poete  laureate  : 
That  name  vnto  them  is  mete  and  doth  agree 
Which  writeth  matters  with  curiositee. 
Mine  habite  blacke  accordeth  not  with  grene, 
Blacke  betokeneth  death  as  it  is  dayly  sene ; 
The  grene  is  pleasour,  freshe  lust  and  iolite ; 
These  two  in  nature  hath  great  diuersitie. 
Then  who  would  ascribe,  except  he  were  a  foole, 
The  pleasaunt  laurer  vnto  the  mourning  cowle  '}  "  3 

1  Vol.  i.  219. 

2  Prologe  to  Eyloges,  sig.  A  1.  ed.  1570. 


XXli  SOME    ACCOUNT    OF 

Warton  has  remarked,  that  some  of  Skelton's 
Latin  verses,  which  are  subscribed — "  Haec  lau- 
reatus  Skeltonis,  regius  orator  " — "  Per  Skelton- 
ida  laureatum,  oratorem  regium," — seem  to  have 
been  written  in  the  character  of  royal  laureate  ;  * 
and  perhaps  the  expression  "  of  fame  royall  "  in 
Skelton's  lines  on  Calliope,  already  cited,  may 
be  considered  as  strengthening  this  supposition. 
There  would,  indeed,  be  no  doubt  that  Skelton 
was  not  only  a  poet  laureated  at  the  universities, 
but  also  poet  laureat  or  court  poet  to  Henry  the 
Eighth,  if  the  authenticity  of  the  following  state- 
ment were  established  ;  "  la  patente  qui  declare 
Skelton  poete  laureat  d'Henry  viii.  est  datee  de  la 
cinquieme  anne*e  de  son  regne,  ce  qui  tombe  en 
1512  ou  1513  :"  so  (after  giving  correctly  the  se- 
cond entry  concerning  Skelton's  laureation  at  Cam- 
bridge) writes  the  Abbe"  du  Resnel  in  an  essay 
already  mentioned ;  having  received,  it  would 
seem,  both  these  statements  concerning  Skelton 
from  Carte  the  historian,2  who,  while  he  commu- 
nicated to  Du  Resnel  one  real  document,  was  not 

1  Hist.  ofE.  P.  ii.  132  (note,)  ed.  4to,  where  Warton  gives 
the  subscription  of  the  former  as  the  title  of  the  latter  poem: 
his  mistake  was  occasioned  by  the  reprint  of  Skelton's  Works, 
1736.     See  the  present  edition,  vol.  i.  211,  212. 

2  Du  Resnel  expressly  says  that  he  was  made  acquainted 
with  the   Cambridge   entry  by   "  M.   Carte,  autrement  M. 
Phillips."     Eecherches  sur  les  Poetes    Couronnfz,—Hist.  de 
tAcad.  des  Inscript.  (Mem.  de  Litter  attire,)  x.  522. — Carte  as- 
sumed the  name  of  Phillips  when  he  took  refuge  in  France. 


SKELTO?^    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  XXlil 

likely  to  have  forged  another  for  the  purpose  of 
misleading  the  learned  Frenchman.  On  this  sub- 
ject I  can  only  add,  that  no  proof  has  been  dis- 
covered of  Skelton's  having  enjoyed  an  annual 
salary  from  the  crown  in  consequence  of  such  an 
office. 

The  reader  will  have  observed  that  in  the  first 
entry  given  above  from  the  Cambridge  Univ.  Regist. 
Skelton  is  described  as  having  been  laureated  not 
only  at  Oxford  but  also  "  transmarinis  partibus." 
That  the  foreign  seat  of  learning  at  which  he  re- 
ceived this  honour  was  the  university  of  Louvaine,1 
may  be  inferred  from  the  title  of  a  poem  which  I 
subjoin  entire,  not  only  because  it  occurs  in  a  vol- 
ume of  the  greatest  rarity,  but  because  it  evinces 
the  celebrity  which  Skelton  had  attained. 


"IN   CLARISSIMI  SCHELTONIS  iO{7^JV/£JVS;S  POETJE 
LAUBES  EPIGRAM. MA. 

Quum  terra  omnifero  Isetissima  risit  amictu, 

Plena  novo  fcetu  quselibet  arbor  erat; 
Vertice  purpurei  vultus  incepit  honores 

Extensis  valvis  paudere  pulchra  rosa ; 
Et  segetum  tenero  sub  cortice  grana  tumescunt, 

Flavescens  curvat  pendula  spica  caput. 
Vix  Cancri  tropicos  sestus  lustravit  anhelans 

Pythius,  et  Nemeae  vertit  ad  ora  ferae, 

1  A  gentleman  resident  at  Louvaine  obligingly  examined 
for  me  the  registers  of  that  university,  but  could  find  in  them 
no  mention  of  Skelton. 


xiv  SOME    ACCOUNT    OF 

Vesper  solis  equos  oriens  dum  clausit  Olympo, 

Agmina  stellarum  surgere  cunctajubet: 
Hie  primo  aspiceres  ut  Cynthia  vecta  screno 

Extulerut  surgens  cornua  clara  polo ; 
Inde  Hydram  cernas,  stravit  quam  clava  trinodis 

AlcidsE,  nitidis  emicuisse  comis; 
Turn !  Procyon  subiit,  prsepes  Lepus,  hinc  Jovis  ales, 

Arctos,  et  Engonasus,  sidus  et  Eridani ; 
Ignivomis  retinet  radiis  quse  stellifer  orbis 

(Quid  multis  vemorer?)  sidera  cuncta  micant. 
Nutat  Atlantenm  convexum  pondus,  ocellis 

Dum  lustro  hsec  aegris,  vergit  et  oceano. 
Turn  furtim  alma  quies  repens  mihi  membra  soporat, 

Curaque  Lethaeo  flumine  mersa  jacet: 
0  mihi  quam  placidis  Icelos  tulit  aurea  somnis 

Somnin,  musiphilis  non  caritura  fide! 
Nuncia  percelebris  Polyhymnia  blanda  salutans 

Me  Clarii  ut  visam  numina  sacra  citat. 
Ut  sequar  hauc  latus,  mihi  visus  amcena  vireta 

Et  nemorum  umbrosos  prateriisse  sinus: 
Scilicet  haec  montes  monstraverat  inter  eundum 

Et  fontes  Musae  quos  coluere  sacros ; 
Castalios  latices,  Aganippidos  atque  Medusei 

Vidimus  nlipedis  flumina  rupta  pede; 
Antra  hinc  Libethri  monstrat  Pimpleidos  undas, 

Post  vada  Cephisi,  Phocidos  atque  lacus; 
Nubifer  assurgit  mons  Pierus  atque  Cithaeron, 

Gryneumque  nemus  dehinc  Heliconque  sacer: 
Inde  et  Parnasi  bifidi  secreta  subimus, 

Tota  ubi  Mnemosynes  sancta  propago  manet. 
Turba  pudica  novem  dulce  hie  cecinere  sororum; 

Delius  in  mcdio  plectra  chelynque  sonat: 
Aurinuis  laudut  modulis  monumenta  suorum 

Vatum,  quos  dignos  censet  honore  poll: 


1  The  original  has  "  Cum:  "  but  the  initial  letters  of  the 
lines  were  intended  to  form  a  distich;  see  the  conclusion  of 
the  poem. 


SKELTON    AXD    HIS    WRITINGS. 

De  quo  certamnt  Salamin,  Curaae,  vel  Athenae, 

Smyrna,  Chios,  Colophon,  primus  Homerus  erat; 
Laudat  et  Orpheum,  domuit  qui  voce  leones, 

Eurydicen  Stygiis  qui  rapuitque  rogis; 
Antiquum  meminit  Musaeum  Eumolpide  natum, 

Te  nee  Aristophanes  Euripidesque  tacet; 
Vel  canit  illustreni  genuit  quern  Teia  tellus, 

Quemque  fovit  dulci  Coa  catnena  siim; 
Deinde  cothurnatum  celebrem  dat  laude  Sophoclem, 

Et  quam  Lesbides  pavit  amore  Phaon; 
jEschylus,  Amphion,  Thespis  nee  honore  carebant, 

Pindarus,  Alcjeus,  quern  tuleratqne  Paros ; 
Sunt  alii  plures  genuit  quos  terra  Pelasga, 

Daphnasum  cecinit  qnos  meruisse  decus: 
Tersa  Latinorum  dehinc  multa  poemata  texit, 

Laude  nee  Argivis  inferiora  probat : 
Insignem  tollit  ter  vatem,  cui  declit  Andes 

Cdnas  urbs,  clarum  Parthenopsea  taphum; 
Blanda  Corinna,  tui  Ponto  religatus  amore, 

Sulmoni  natus  Naso  secundus  erat; 
Inde  nitore  fluens  lyricus  genere  Appulus  ille 

Qui  Latiis  primus  mordica  metra  tulit; 
Statius  J£acidem  sequitur  Thebaida  pingens, 

Emathio  hinc  scribens  praslia  gesta  solo; 
Cui  Verona  parens  hinc  mollis  scriptor  amorum, 

Tu  nee  in  obscuro,  culte  Tibulle,  lates; 
Haud  reticendus  erat  cui  patria  Bilbilis,  atque 

Persius  hinc  mordax  crimina  spurca  notans; 
Eximius  pollet  vel  Seneca  luce  tragoedus, 

Comicus  et  Latii  bellica  pra;da  duels; 
Laudat  et  hinc  alios  quos  saeeula  prisca  fovebant; 

Hos  omnes  longum  jam  meminisse  foret. 
Turn  *  Smintheus,  paulo  spirans,  ait,  ecce,  sorores, 

Quse  clausa  oceano  terra  Britanna  nitet ! 
Oxoniam  claram  Pataraea  ut  regna  videtis, 

Aut  Tenedos,  Delos,  qua  mea  fama  viret: 


1  Here  again  the  original  has  "  Cum." 


XXVI  SOME    ACCOUNT    OF 

Nonne  fluunt  istic  nitidas  ut  Permessidos  undse, 

Istic  et  Aonige  sunt juga  visa  mihi? 
Alma  fovet  vates  nobis  hoec  terra  ministros, 

Inter  quos  Schelton  jure  canendus  adest : 
Numina  nostra  colit ;  canit  hie  vel  carmina  cedro 

Digna,  Palatinis  et  socianda  sacris; 
Grande  decus  nobis  addunt  sua  scripta,  linenda 

Auratis,  digna  ut  posteritate,  notis; 
Laudiflua  excurrit  serie  sua  culta  poesis, 

Certatim  palmam  lectaque  vcrba  petunt; 
Ora  lepore  fluunt,  sicuti  dives  Tagus  nuro, 

Aut  pressa  Hyblceis  dulcia  mella  favis; 
Ehetoricus  sermo  riguo  fecundior  horto, 

Pulchrior  est  multo  puniceisque  rosis, 
Unda  limpidtor,  Parioque  politior  albo, 

Splendidior  vitro,  candidiorque  nive, 
Mitior  Alcinois  pomis,  fragrantior  ipso 

Thureque  Pantlieo,  gratior  et  violis ; 
Vincit  te,  suavi  Demostheue,  vincit  Ulyxim 

Eloquio,  atque  senem  quern  tulit  ipse  Pylos; 
Ad  fera  bella  trnhat  verbis,  nequiit  quod  Atrides 

Aut  Brisis,  rigidum  te  licet,  jEacides ; 
Tantum  ejus  verbis  tribuit  Suadela  Venusque 

Et  Charites,  animos  quolibet  ille  ut  agat, 
Vel  Lacedsemonios  quo  Tyrtseus  pede  claudo 

Pieriis  vincens  martia  tela  modis, 
Magnus  Alexander  quo  belliger  actus  ab  ilia 

Mceonii  vatis  grandisonante  tuba; 
Gratia  tanta  suis  virtusque  est  diva  camenis, 

Ut  revocet  manes  ex  Acheronte  citos ; 
Leniat  hie  plectro  vel  pectora  sasva  leonum, 

Hie  strepitu  condat  mcenia  vasta  lyrse ; 
Omnimodos  animi  possit  depellere  morbos, 

Vel  Niobes  luctus  Heliadumque  truces ; 
Beprimat  hie  rabidi  Saulis  sedetqu'e  furores, 

Liter  delphinas  alter  Arion  erit; 
Ire  Cupidineos  quovis  hie  cogat  amores, 

Atque  diu  assuetos  hie  abolere  queat; 


SKELTON   AND    HIS    WRITINGS.          XXV11 

Auspice  me  tripodas  sentit,  me  inflante  calores 

Concipit  aethereos,  mystica  diva  canit; 
Stellaram  cursns,  naturam  vasti  et  Olympi, 

Aeris  et  vires  hie  aperire  potest, 
Vel  quid  cunctiparens  gremio  tellus  fovet  almo ; 

Gurgite  quid  teneat  velivolumque  mare ; 
Monstratur  digito  phoenice  ut  rarior  uno, 

Ecce  virum  de  quo  splendida  fama  volat ! 
Ergo  decus  nostrum  quo  fulget  honorque,  sorores, 

Heroas  laudes  accumulate  viro ; 
Laudes  accuruulent  Satyri,  juga  densa  Lycaei, 

Pindi,  vel  Rhodopes,  Msenala  quique  colunt; 
Ingeminent  plausus  Dryades  facilesque  Napsese, 

Oreadum  Celebris  turba  et  Hamadryadum ; 
Blandisonum  vatem,  vos  Oceanitidesque  atque 

Naiades,  innumeris  tollite  prseconiis ; 
-Eterno  vireat  quo  vos  celebravit  honore, 

Illius  ac  astris  fama  perennis  eat : 
Nunc  maduere  satis  vestro,  nunc  prata  liquore. 

Flumina,  Pierides,  sistite,  Phoebus  ait. 
Sat  oecinisse  tuum  sit,  mi  Schelton,  tibi  laudi 

Hsec  Whitintonum:  culte  poeta,  vale. 

Ex  capitalibus  hexametrorum  litteris  solerter  compositis  emer- 
git  hoc  distichon ; 

Quse  Whitintonus  canit  ad  laudes  tibi,  Schelton, 
Anglorum  vatum  gloria,  sume  libens."  l 

Another  laudatory  notice  of  Skelton  by  a  con- 
temporary writer  will  not  here  be  out  of  place ; 

"  To  all  auncient  poetes,  litell  boke,  submytte  the, 
Whilom  flouryng  in  eloquence  facundious, 

1  From  the  4to  volume  entitled  Opusculum  Robertl  tyhittin- 
toni  in  florentissima  Oxoniensi  achademia  Laurenti.  At  the  end, 
Expliciut  Roberti  Whilintoni  Oxonie  Protouatis  Ejyygrammata  : 
una  cu  quibusda  Panegyricis.  Impressa  Lodini  ptr  me  wynandu 
deworde.  Anno  post  virgineu  par  fa.  M.  ccccc  xix.  decimo  vero 
katidas  Mail. 


XXV1U  SOME    ACCOUNT    OP 

And  to  all  other  whiche  present  nowe  be ; 
Fyrst  to  maister  Chaucer  and  Ludgate  sentencious, 
Also  to  preignaunt  Barkley  nowe  beying  religious, 
To  inuentiue  Skelton  and  poet  laureate ; 
Praye  them  all  of  pardon  both  erly  and  late."  1 

Skelton  frequently  styles  himself  "orator  re- 
gius  ;  "  2  but  the  nature  of  the  office  from  which 
he  derived  the  title  is  not,  I  believe,  understood. 
The  lines  in  which,  as  we  have  just  seen,  Whit- 
tington  so  lavishly  praises  his  "  rhetoricus  sermo," 
allude  most  probably  to  his  performances  in  the 
capacity  of  royal  orator. 

In  1498  Skelton  took  holy  orders.  The  days 
on  which,  during  that  year,  he  was  ordained  suc- 
cessively subdeacon,  deacon,  and  priest,  are  ascer- 
tained by  the  following  entries : 

"  [In  ecclesia  conuentuali  domus  fiue  hospitalis  sancti 
Thome  martins  de  Aeon  ciuitatis  London,  per  Thomam  Roth- 
lucensem  episcopum  vltimo  die  mensis  Marcii] 

M,  Johannes  Skelton  London,  dioc.  ad  titulum  MOD.  beate 
Marie  de  Graciis  iuxtft  Turrim  London." 

"  [In  cathedra  sancti  Pauli  London,  apud  sumraum  altare 


1  Henry  Bradshaw's  Lyfe  of  Saynf  Werburghe,  1.  ii.  c.  24. 
printed  by  Pynson  1521,  4to. 

2  See  the  two  subscriptions  already  cited,  p.  xxii ;  and  vol. 
i.  154,230,  vol.  ii.  275  — "Clarus  &  fucundus  in  utroque.scri- 
bendi  genore,  prosn  atque  metro,  habebatnr."     Bale,  Script. 
Jttust.  Brit.  &c.  p.  651.  ed.  1559.    "  Inter  Rhetores  regius  ora- 
tor factus."     Pits,  De  Illust.  Angl.  Script,  p.  701.  ed.  1019. 
"  With  regard  to  the  Orator  Regius,"1  says  Warton,  "  I  find 
one  John  Mallard  in  that  office  to  Henry  the  eighth,  and  his 
epistolary  secretary,"  &c.    Hist,  of  E.  P.  ii.  132  (note),  ed.  4to. 


SKELTON    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  XXIX 

eiusdem  per  Thomam  permissione  diuina  London,  episcopum 
in  sabbato  sancto  viz.  xiiii  die  mensis  Aprilis] 

Johannes  Skelton  poete  [sic]  laureatus  Lond.  dioc.  ad  titu- 
lum  Mon.  de  Graciis  juxta  turrim  London." 

"  [In  ecclesia  conuentuali  hospitalis  beate  Marie  de  Elsyng 
per  Thomam  Rothlucensem  episcopum  ix  die  mensis  lunii] 

M.  Johannes  Skellon  poetn,  lureatus  [sic]  London,  diorc.  ad 
titulum  Mon.  de  Graciis  iuxta  turrim  London."  * 

When  Arthur,  the  eldest  son  of  Henry  the 
Seventh,  was  created  Prince  of  Wales  and  Earl 
of  Chester,  in  1489,2  Skelton  celebrated  the  event 
in  a  composition  (probably  poetical)  called  Prince 
Arturis  Creacyoun,3  of  which  the  title  alone  re- 
mains ;  and  when  Prince  Henry,  afterwards  Henry 
the  Eighth,  was  created  Duke  of  York,  in  1494,4 
he  was  hailed  by  our* author  in  some  Latin  verses 
—  Carmen  ad  principem,  quando  insignitus  erat 
duds  Ebor.  titulo, — a  copy  of  which  (not  to  be 
found  at  present)  was  once  among  the  MSS.  in 
the  Library  of  Lincoln  Cathedral,  having  been 
seen  by  Tanner,  who  cites  the  initial  words, — 
"  Si  quid  habes,  mea  Musa."5 

As  at  the  last  mentioned  date  Prince  Henry 


1  Register  Bill  1489-1505,  belonging  to  the  Diocese  of  Lon 
don. 

2  1st  Octr. :  see  Sandford's  Geneal.  Hist.  p.  475.  ed.  1707. 
8  See  the  Garlande  of  Law-ell,  vol.  ii.  221. 

4  Henry  was  created  Duke  of  York  31st  Octr.  an.  10.  Hen. 
vii.  1 1494);  see  Sandford's  Geneal  Elst.  p.  480.  ed.  1707. 
See  also  The  Creation  of-Henry  Duke  of  Yorke,  &c.  (from  a 
Cottonian  MS.)  in  Lord  Somers's  Tracts,  i.  24.  ed.  Scott, 

6  BMoth.  p.  676.  ed.  1748. 


XXX  SOME   ACCOUNT    OF 

was  a  mere  infant,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the 
care  of  his  education  had  not  yet  been  intrusted 
to  our  poet.  It  must  have  been  several  years 
after  1494  that  Skelton  was  appointed  tutor  to 
that  prince, — an  appointment  which  affords  a 
striking  proof  of  the  high  opinion  entertained  of 
his  talents  and  learning,  as  well  as  of  the  respect- 
ability of  his  character.  He  has  himself  recorded 
that  he  held  this  important  situation  : 

"  The  honor  of  Englond  I  lernyd  to  spelle, 
In  dygnyte  roialle  that  doth  excelle : 
Note  and  marke  wyl  *  thys  parcele ; 
I  yaue  hym  drynke  of  the  sugryd  welle 
Of  Eliconys  waters  crystallyne, 
Aqueintyng  hym  with  the  Musys  nyne. 
Yt  commyth  the1  wele  me  to  remorde, 
That  creaunser2  was  to  thy  sofre[yne]  lorde: 
It  plesyth  that  noble  prince  roialle 
Me  as  hys  master  for  to  calle 
In  hys  lernyng  prhnordialle."  8 

And  in  another  poem  he  informs  us  that  he  com- 
posed a  treatise  for  the  edification  of  his  royal 
pupil : 


1  i.  e.  well. 

2  i.e.  tutor:  see  Notes,  vol.  iii.  146.— When  ladies  attempt 
to  write  history,  they  sometimes  say  odd  things :  e.  g.  "  It  18 
affirmed  that  Skelton  had  been  tutor  to  Henry  [viii.]  in  some 
department  of  his  education.     How  probable  it  is  that  the  cor- 
ruption imparted  by  this  ribald  and  ill-living  wretch  laid  the 
foundation  for  his  royal  pupil's  grossest  crimes !  "     Lives  of 
the  Queens  of  England  by  Agnes  Strickland,  vol.  iv.  104. 

3  Fourth  Poem  Against  Garnesche,  vol.  i.  160. 


SKELTON    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  XXXI 

"  The  Duke  of  Yorkis  creauncer  whan  Skelton  was, 
Now  Henry  the  viii.  Kyng  of  Englonde, 

A  trat}-se  he  deuysid  and  browght  it  to  pas, 
Callid  Speculum  Principis,  to  bere  in  his  honde, 
Therin  to  rede ;  and  to  vnderstande 

All  the  demenour  of  princely  astate, 

To  be  our  Kyng,  of  God  preordinate."  1 

The  Speculum  Principis  has  perished:  we  are 
unable  to  determine  whether  it  was  the  same  work 
as  that  entitled  Methodos  Skeltonidis  laureati,  sc. 
PrcKcepta  qu&dam  moralia  Henrico  principi,  po- 
stea  Henr.  viii,  missa.  Dat.  apud  Eltham  A.D. 
MDL,  which  in  Tanner's  days2  was  extant  (mu- 
tilated at  the  beginning)  among  the  MSS.  in  the 

1  Garlande  of  Laurell,  vol.ii.224.— After  noticing  that  while 
Arthur  was  yet  alive,  Henry  was  destined  by  his  father  to  be 
archbishop  of  Canterbury,  "  it  has  been  remarked,"  says  Mrs. 
Thomson,  "  that  the  instructions  bestowed  upon  Prince  Henry 
by  his  preceptor,  Skelton,  were  calculated  to  render  him  a 
scholar  and  a  churchman,  rather  than  an  enlightened  legis- 
lator."    Mem.  of  the  Court  of  Henry  the  Eighth,  \.  2.     But  the 
description  of  the  Speculum  Principis,  quoted  above,  is  some- 
what at  variance  with  such  a  conclusion.     The  same  lady 
observes  in  another  part  of  her  work,  "  To  Skelton,  who  in 
conjunction  with  Giles  Dewes,  clerk  of  the  library  .to  Henry 
the  Seventh,  had  the  honour  of  being  tutor  to  Henry  the 
Eighth,  this  king  evinced  his  approbation,"  ii.  590,  and  cites 
in  a  note  the  Epistle  to  Henry  the  Eighth  prefixed  to  Pals- 
grave's Lesclarcissement  de  la  Langue  Francoyse,  1530,  where 
mention   is  made  of  "  the   synguler  clerke  maister  Gyles 
Dewes  somtyme  instructour  to  your  noble  grace  in  this  selfe 
tong."     Though  Dewes  taught  French  to  Henry,  surely  it  by 
no  means  follows  that  he  was  "  his  tutor  in  conjunction  with 
Skelton :  "  a  teacher  of  French  and  a  tutor  are  very  different. 

2  Biblioth.  p.  676.  ed.  1748. 


XXXli  SOME   ACCOUNT    OF 

Lincoln-Cathedral  Library,  but  which  (like  the 
Latin  verses  mentioned  in  a  preceding  page)  has 
since  been  allowed  to  wander  away  from  that  ill- 
guarded  collection. 

When  Prince  Henry  was  a  boy  of  nine  years 
old,  Erasmus  dedicated  to  him  an  ode  De  Laudi- 
bus  Britannia,  Regisque  Henrici  Septimi  ac  Re- 
giorum  Liberorum.  The  Dedication  contains  the 
following  memorable  encomium  on  Skelton  ;  "  Et 
haec  quidem  interea  tamquam  ludicra  munuscula 
tuae  pueritias  dicavimus,  uberiora  largituri  ubi  tua 
virtus  una  cum  tetate  accrescens  uberiorem  car- 
minum  materiam  suppeditabit.  Ad  quod  equi- 
dem  te  adhortarer,  nisi  et  ipse  jamdudum  sponte 
tua  velis  remisque  (ut  aiunt)  eo  tenderes,  et  domi 
haberes  Skeltonum,  unum  Britannicarum  litera- 
rum  lumen  ac  decus,  qui  tua  studia  possit,  non  so- 
lum  accendere,  sed  etiam  consummare  ;  "  and  in 
the  Ode  are  these  lines  ; 

"  Jam  puer  Henricus,  genitoris  nomine  Isetus, 

Monslrantefonteis  vate  Skeltono  sacros, 
Palladias  teneris  meditatur  ab  unguibus  arteis."  l 


l  Erasmi  Opera,  5.  1214,  1216,  ed.  1703.— The  Ode  is  ap- 
pended to  Erasmus's  Latin  version  of  the  Hecuba  and  Jjthi- 
genia  in  Aulide  of  Euripides,  printed  by  Aldus  in  1507;  and 
in  that  edition  the  second  line  which  I  have  quoted  is  found 
with  the  following  variation, 

"  Monstrante  fonteis  vate  Laurigero  sacros." 

"  It  is  probable,"  says  Granger,  "  that  if  that  great  and 
good  man  [Erasmus]  had  read  and  perfectly  understood  his 
[Skelton's]  'pithy,  pleasaunt,  and  profitable  works,'  as  they 


SKELTOX    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.        XXXHJ 

The  circumstances  which  led  to  the  production  of 
this  Ode  are  related  by  Erasmus  in  the  following 
curious  passage :  "  Is  erat  labor  tridui,  et  tamen 
labor,  quod  jam  annos  aliquot  nee  legeram  nee 
gcripseram  ullum  carmen..  Id  partim  pudor  a 
nobis  extorsit,  partim  dolor.  Pertraxerat  me 
Thomas  Morus,1  qui  turn  me  in  prredio  Montjoii2 
agentem  inviserat,  ut  animi  causa  in  proximum 
vlcum3  expatiaremur.  Nam  illic  educabantur  om- 
nes  liberi  regii,  uno  Arcturoexcepto,  qui  turn  erat 
natu  maximus.  Ubi  ventum  est  in  aulam,  conve- 


were  lately  reprinted,  he  would  have  spoken  of  him  in  less 
honourable  terms."  Biog.  Hist,  of  Engl.  \.  102.  ed.  1775. 
The  remark  is  sufficiently  foolish:  in  Skelton's  works  there 
are  not  a  few  passages  which  Erasmus,  himself  a  writer  of 
admirable  wit,  must  have  relished  and  admired;  and  it  was 
not  without  reason  that  he  and  our  poet  have  been  classed 
together  as  satirists,  in  the  following  passage;  "By  what 
meanes  could  Skelton  that  laureat  poet,  or  Erasmus  that 
great  and  learned  clarke,  have  vttered  their  mindes  so  well 
at  large,  as  thorowe  their  clokes  of  mery  conceytes  in  wryt- 
ing  of  toyes  and  foolish  theames:  as  Skelton  did  by  Rpedke 
parrot,  Ware  the  hauke,  the  Tunning  of  Elynour  Rumming, 
Why  come  ye  iwt  to  the  Courte  f  Philip  Sparrowe,  and  such 
like :  yet  what  greater  sense  or  better  matter  can  be,  than  is 
in  this  ragged  ryme  contayned  ?  Or  who  would  haue  hearde 
his  fault  so  playnely  tolde  him,  if  not  in  such  gibyng  sorte? 
Also  Erasmus,  vnder  his  prayse  of  Folly,  what  matters  hath 
he  touched  therein?"  &c.  The  Golden  Aphroditis,  &c.  by 
John  Grange,  1577  (I  quote  from  Censura  Liter,  vol.  i.  382. 
ed.  1815.) 

1  Then  a  student  of  Lincoln's  Inn. 

2  The  country-seat  of  Lord  Mountjoy. 
8  Probably  Eltham. 

VOL.    I.  C 


XXXIV  SOME    ACCOUNT    OF 

nit  tota  pompa,  non  solum  domusillius,  verum  eti- 
am  Montjoiicas.  Stabat  in  medio  Henricus  annos 
natus  novem,  jam  turn  indolem  quandam  regiam 
prae  se  ferens,  h.  e.  animi  celsitudinem  cum  sin- 
gulari  quadam  humanUate  conjunctam.  A  dex- 
tris  erat  Margareta,  undecim  ferme  annos  nata, 
quae  post  nupsit  Jacobo  Scotorum  Regi.  A  sinis- 
tris,  Maria  lusitans  annos  nata  quatuor.  Nam 
Edmondus  adhuc  infans,  in  ulnis  gestabatur.  Mo- 
rus  cum  Arnoldo  sodali  salutato  puero  Henrico, 
quo  rege  nunc  floret  Britannia,  nescio  quid  script- 
orum  obtulit.  Ego,  quoniam  hujusmodi  nihil  ex- 
pectabam,nihil  habens  quod  exhiberem,  pollicitus 
sum  aliquo  pacto  meum  erga  ipsum  studium  ali- 
quandodeclaraturum.  Interim  subirascebar  Moro, 
quod  non  prgemonuisset ;  et  eo  magis,  quod  puer 
Epistolio  inter  prandendum  ad  me  inisso,  meum 
calamum  provocaret.  Abii  domum,  ac  vel  invi- 
tis  Musis,  cum  quibus  jam  longum  fuerat  divor- 
tium,  Carmen  intra  tridum  absolvi.  Sic  et  ultus 
sum  dolorem  meum  et  pudorem  sarsi."1 

The  mother  of  Henry  the  Seventh,  the  Count- 
ess of  Richmond  and  Derby,  is  well  known  to  have 
used  her  utmost  exertions  for  the  advancement  of 
literature  ;  she  herself  translated  some  pieces  from 

l  Catal.  (Primus)  Lucubrationum,  p.  2.  prefixed  to  the  above- 
cited  vol.  of  Erasmi  Opera. — In  Turner's  Hist,  of  the  Reign 
of  Henry  the  Eighth,  it  is  erroneously  stated  that  Erasmus 
"  had  the  interview  which  he  thus  describes,  at  the  residence 
of  Lord  Afountjoy."  i.  11.  ed.  8vo. 


SKELTON    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.          XXXV 

the  French;  and,  under  her  patronage,  several 
works  (chiefly  works  of  piety)  were  rendered  into 
English  by  the  most  competent  scholars  of  the 
time.  It  is  to  her,  I  apprehend,  that  Skelton  al- 
ludes in  the  following  passage  of  the  Gfarlande  of 
Laurel!,  where  he  mentions  one  of  his  lost  per- 
formances ; 

"  Of  my  ladys  grace  at  the  contemplacyoun, 

0\vt  of  Frenshe  into  Englysshe  prose, 
Of  Marines  Lyfe  the  Peregrynacioun, 
He  did  translate,  enterprete,  and  disclose."  ' 

According  to  Churchyard,  Skelton  was  "  seldom 
out  of  princis  grace  :"  2  yet  among  the  Actes,  Or- 
ders, and  Decrees  made  by  the  King  and  his 
Counsell,  remaining  amongst  the  Records  of  the 
Court,  now  commonly  called  the  Court  of  Requests, 
we  find,  under  anno  17.  Henry  vii. ;  "  10  Junii 
apud  Westminster  Jo.  Skelton  commissus  carceri- 
bus  Janitoris  Domini  Regis."8  What  could  have 
occasioned  this  restraint,  I  cannot  even  conjecture : 
but  in  those  days  of  extrajudicial  imprisonments 
he  might  have  been  incarcerated  for  a  very  slight 
offence.  It  is,  however,  by  no  means  certain  that 
the  "  Jo.  Skelton  "  of  the  above  entry  was  the  in- 
dividual who  forms  the  subject  of  the  present 


1  Vol.  ii.  224. 

2  Lines  prefixed  to  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton'8  Workes,  1568; 
see  Appendix  I.  to  this  Memoir. 

3  p.  30,— 1592,  4to. 


XXXVI  SOME    ACCOUNT    OF 

essay  ; 1  and  it  is  equally  doubtful  whether  or  not 
the  following  entry,  dated  the  same  year,  relates 
to  the  mother  of  the  poet; 

(Easter  term,  17.  Henry  vii.)  "  Johanne  )  »•  ft.     •       s:-d,, 
Skellon  vidue  de  regard.  Domini  Regis  2  )    J' 

It  has  been  already  shewn  that  Skelton  took 
holy  orders  in  1498.3  How  soon  after  that  period 
he  became  rector  of  Diss  in  Norfolk,  or  what  por- 
tion of  his  life  was  spent  there  in  the  exercise  of 
his  duties,  cannot  be  ascertained.  He  certainly 
resided  there  in  1504  and  1511,4and,  as  it  would 

1  According  to  the  xiv">  of  the  Merie  Tales  of  Skellon  (see 
Appendix  I.  to  the  present  Memoir,)  he  was  "  long  confined 
in  prison  at  Westminster  by  the  command  of  the  cardinal: " 
but  the  tract  is  of  such  a  nature  that  we  must  hesitate  about 
believing  a  single  statement  which  it  contains.    Even  sup- 
posing that  at  some  period  or  other  Skelton  was  really  im- 
prisoned by  Wolsey,  that  imprisonment  could  hardly  have 
taken  place  so  early  as  1502.    As  far  as  I  can  gather  from 
his  writings,  Skelton  first  offended  Wolsey  by  glancing  at 
him  in  certain  passages  of  Colyn  Cloute,  and  in  those  passages 
the  cardinal  is  alluded  to  as  being  in  the  fulness  of  pomp  and 
power. 

2  By  Writ  of  Privy  Seal— Auditor's  Calendar  of  Files  from 
1485  to  1522,  fol.  101  (b.),  in  the  Public  Record  Office. 

*  Ritson  (Bibliog.  Poet.  p.  102)  says  that  Skelton  was  "  chap- 
lain to  king  Henry  the  eighth:  "  qy.  on  what  authority? 

<  "  He  .  .  .  was  Rector  and  lived  here  [at  Diss]  in  1504 
and  in  1511,  as  I  find  by  his  being  Witness  to  several  Wills  in 
this  year.  (Note)  1504,  The  Will  of  Mary  Cowper  of  Disse, 
4  Witnesses  Master  John  Skelton,  Laureat,  Parson  of  Disse, 
&c.'  And  among  the  Evidences  of  Mr.  Thomas  Coggeshall, 
I  find  the  House  in  the  Tenure  of  Master  Skelton,  Laureat. 
...  Mr.  Le-Neve  says,  that  his  [Skeiton'sJ  Institution  does 


SKELTON    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.       XXXV11 

seem  from  some  of  his  compositions,1  in  1506, 1507 
and  1513  ;  in  the  year  of  his  decease  he  was,  at 
least  nominally,  the  rector  of  Diss.2 

We  are  told3  that  for  keeping,  under  the  title 

not  appear  in  the  Books,  which  is  true,  for  often  those  that 
wore  collated  by  the  Pope,  had  no  Institution  from  the  Bishop, 
many  Instances  of  which  in  those  Books  occur;  but  it  is  cer- 
tain from  abundance  of  Records  and  Evidences  that  I  have 
seen,  that  he  was  Rector  several  years."  Blomefield's  Hist, 
of  Norfolk,  i.  20.  ed.  1739.— The  parish-register  of  Diss  affords 
no  information  concerning  Skelton ;  for  the  earliest  date 
which  it  contains  is  long  posterior  to  his  death. 

1  See  A  deuoute  trtnlale  for  old  John  Clarke,  who  died  in 
1506,  vol.  i.  187  ;  Lamentatio  urbls  Norvicen.,  written  in  1507, 
p.  194;  and  Chorus  de  Dis,  &c.  in  1513,  p.  211. 

2  1  may  notice  here,  that  in  an  Assessment  for  a  Subsidy, 
temp.  Henry  viii.,  we  find,  under  "  Sancte  Helenes  Parishe 
within  Bisshoppisgate," — 

"  Mr.  Skdton  in  goodes  xl.  U.'' 

Books  of  the  Treasury  of  the  Exchequer,  B.  4.  15,  fol.  7,— Pub- 
lic Record  Office.  Qy.  was  this  our  author? 

3  "  Cum  quibusdam  blateronibus  fraterculis,  pnecipue  Do- 
minicanis,  bellum  gerebat  continuum.     Sub  pseudopontifice 
Nordouicensi  Ricardo  Nixo,  mulierem  illam,  quain  sibi  secreto 
ob  Antichrist!  metum  desponsauerat,  sub  concubinse  titulo 
cnstodiebat.    In  ultimo  tamen  uitoe  articulo  super  ea  re  in- 
terrogatus,  respondit,  se  nusquam  illam  in  conscientia  coram 
Deo  nisi  pro  uxore  legitima  tenuisse.  .  .  .  animam  egit  .  .  . 
relictis  liberis."     Bale,  Script.  Must.  Brit.  pp.  651,  2.  ed. 
1559. — "In  Monachos  praesertim  Praedicatores  S.  Dominici 
saepe  stylura  acuit,  &  tenninos  pratergressus  modestise,  con- 
tra eos  scommatibus  acerbius  egit.     Quo  facto  suum  exas- 
perauit  Episcopum  Richardum  Nixum,  qni  habito  de  vita  & 
moribus  eius  examine,  deprehendit  hominem  votam  Deo  cas- 
titatem  violasse,  imo  concubinam  domi  suse  diu  tenuisse." 
Pits,  De  Jttusl.  Angl.  Script,  p.  701.  ed.  1619.—"  The  Domini- 
can Friars  were  the  next  he  contested  with,  whose  vitiousness 


XXXV111  SOME    ACCOUNT    OF 

of  a  concubine,  a  woman  whom  he  had  secretly 
married,  Skelton  was  called  to  account,  and  sus- 
pended from  his  ministerial  functions  by  his  dio- 
cesan, the  bloody-minded  and  impure  Richard 
Nykke  (or  Nix),1  at  the  instigation  of  the  friars, 

lay  pat  enough  for  his  hand;  but  such  foul  Lubbers  fell 
heavy  on  all  which  found  fault  with  them.  These  instigated 
Nix,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  to  call  him  to  account  for  keeping  a 
Concubine,  which  cost  him  (as  it  seems)  a  suspension  from 
his  benefice.  .  .  .  We  must  not  forget,  how  being  charged  by 
some  on  his  death-bed  for  begetting  many  children  on  the 
aforesaid  Concubine,  he  protested,  that  in  his  Conscience  he 
kept  her  in  the  notion  of  a  wife,  though  such  his  cowardli- 
ness that  he  would  rather  confess  adultery  (then  accounted 
but  a  venial)  than  own  marriage,  esteemed  a  capital  crime  in 
that  age."  Fuller's  Worthies,  p.  257,  (Norfolk,)  ed.  1662.- 
Anthony  Wood,  with  his  usual  want  of  charity  towards  the 
sons  of  genius,  says  that  Skelton  "  having  been  guilty  of  cer- 
tain crimes,  (as  most  poets  are,)  at  least  not  agreeable  to  his 
coat,  fell  under  the  heavy  censure  of  Rich.  Nykke  bishop  of 
Norwich  his  diocesan ;  especially  for  his  scoffs  and  ill  lan- 
guage against  the  monks  and  dominicans  in  his  writings." 
Atk.  Oxon.  i.  50.  ed.  Bliss,  who  adds  in  a  note,  "  Mr.  Thomas 
Delafield  in  his  MS.  Cullection  of  Poets  Laureate,  £c.  among 
Cough's  MSS.  in  the  Bodleian,  says  it  was  in  return  for  his 
being  married,  an  equal  crime  in  the  ecclesiastics  of  those 
days,  bishop  Nykke  suspended  him  from  his  church." — Tan- 
ner gives  as  one  of  the  reasons  for  Skelton's  taking  sanctuary 
at  Westminster  towards  the  close  of  his  life,  "  propter  quod 
uxorem  habuit."  Bibliotii.  p.  675.  ed.  1748. — In  the  xiii"1  of 
the  Merie  Tales  (see  Appendix  I.  to  the  present  Memoir)  Skel- 
ton's wife  is  mentioned. 

1 "  Cui  [Nixo]  utcunque  a  nive  nomen  videatur  inditum, 
adeo  nihil  erat  nivei  in  pectore,  luxuriosis  cogitationibus 
plurimum  aestuante,  ut  atro  carbone  libidines  ejus  notar.dae 
videantur,  si  vera  sunt  qua?  de  illo  a  Nevillo  perhibentur." 
Godwin  De  Prcesul.  Anyl.  p.  440.  ed.  1743. 


SKELTON    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.       XXXIX 

chiefly  the  Dominicans,  whom  the  poet  had  se- 
verely handled  in  his  writings.  It  is  said,  too, 
that  by  this  woman  he  had  several  children,  and 
that  on  his  death-bed  he  declared  that  he  consci- 
entiously regarded  her  as  his  wife,  but  that  such 
had  been  his  cowardliness,  that  he  chose  rather  to 
confess  adultery  (concubinage)  than  what  was  then 
reckoned  more  criminal  in  an  ecclesiastic — mar- 
riage. 

It  has  been  supposed  that  Skelton  was  curate 
of  Trumpington  near  Cambridge  l  (celebrated  as 
the  scene  of  Chaucer's  Milleres  Tale,)  because 
at  the  end  of  one  of  his  smaller  poems  are  the 
following  words  ; 

"  Auctore  Skelton,  rectore  de  Dis. 
Finis,  &c.  Apud  Trumpinton  scriptum  2  per  Curatum  ejus- 

1  "  In  the  Edition  of  his  Workes  in  8vo.  Land.  1736,  which 
I  have,  at  p.  272  he  mentions  Trumpinton,  and  seems  to  have 
been  Curate  there,  5.  Jan.  1507.     At  p.  54  he  also  mentions 
Swafham   and    Soham,   2  Towns  in    Cambi-idyeshire,  in   The 
Crawne  of  Lawrell."     Cole's    Collections,— Add.  MSS.  (Brit, 
llus.)  5880,  p.  199.     To  conclude  from  the  mention  of  these 
towns  that  Skelton  resided  in  Cambridgeshire  is  the  height 
of  absurdity,  as  the  reader  will  immediately  perceive  on  turn- 
ing to  the  passage  in  question,  Garlande  of  Laurtll,  v.  1416, 
vol.  ii.232.— Chalmers,  on  the  authority  of  a  MS.  note  by 
Kennet,  a  transcript  of  which  had  been  sent  to  him,  states 
that  "  in  1512,  Skelton  was  presented  by  Richard,  abbot  of 
Glastonbury,  to  the  vicarage  of  Daltyng."     Biog.  Diet,  xxviii. 
45:  if  Chalmers  had  consulted  Wood's  account  of  the  poet, 
he  might  have  learned  that  the  rector  of  Diss  and  the  vicar 
of  Dultyng  were  different  persons. 

2  The  old  ed.  has  "  scrioter." 


XI  SOME   ACCOUNT    OF 

dem,  quinto  die  Januarii  Anno  Domini,  secundum  computat. 
Angliae,  MDVII."  1 

But  the  meaning  evidently  is,  that  the  curate  of 
Trumpington  had  written  out  the  verses  composed 
by  the  rector  of  Diss ;  and  that  the  former  had 
borrowed  them  from  the  latter  for  the  purpose  of 
transcription,  is  rendered  probable  by  two  lines 
which  occur  soon  after  among  some  minor  pieces 
of  our  author; 

"  Hanc  volo  transcribas,  transcriptam  moxque  remittas 
Pagellam;  quia  sunt  qui  mea  scripta  sciunt."  2 

Anthony  Wood  affirms  that  "  at  Disse  and  in 
the  diocese  "  Skelton  "  was  esteemed  more  fit  for 
the  stage  than  the  pew  or  pulpit."  8  It  is  at  least 
certain  that  anecdotes  of  the  irregularity  of  .his 
life,  of  his  buffoonery  as  a  preacher,  &c.  &c. 
were  current  long  after  his  decease,  and  gave  rise 
to  that  tissue  of  extravagant  figments  which  was 
put  together  for  the  amusement  of  the  vulgar,  and 
entitled  the  Merie  Tales  of  Skelton* 

Churchyard  informs  us  that  Skelton's  "  talke 
was  as  he  wraet  [wrote]  ; "  6  and  in  this  propen- 

1  vol.  i.  193. 

2  vol.  i.  196. 

«  Alh.  Oxon.  \.  50.  ed.  Bliss. 

<  Reprinted  in  Appendix  I.  to  this  Memoir;  where  see  also 
the  extracts  from  A  C  mery  Talys,  &c. — The  biographer  of 
Skelton,  in  Eminent  Lit.  and  Scient.  Men  of  Great  Britain,  &c. 
(Lardner's  Cyclop.),  asserts  that  "he  composed  his  Merie  Talet 
for  tiie  Icing  and  nobles  "  ! ! !  i.  279. 

6  Lines  prefixed  to  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Wwkes,  1568; 
see  Appendix  I.  to  this  Memoir. 


SKELTON    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  xli 

sity  to  satire,  as  well  in  conversation  as  in  writ- 
ing, originated  perhaps  those  quarrels  with  Gar- 
nesche,  Barclay,  Gaguin,  and  Lily,  which  I  have 
now  to  notice. 

As  the  four  poems  Against  Garnesche  were 
composed  "  by  the  kynges  most  noble  commaunde- 
ment,"  we  may  conclude  that  the  monarch  found 
amusement  in  the  angry  rhymes  with  which  Skel- 
ton  overwhelmed  his  opponent.  Garnesche  it  ap- 
pears, was  the  challenger  in  this  contest ; *  and  it 
is  to  be  regretted  that  his  verses  have  perished, 
because  in  all  probability  they  would  have  thrown 
some  light  on  the  private  history  of  Skelton.  The 
Flyting  of  Dunbar  and  Kennedy  '2  bears  a  con- 
siderable resemblance  to  the  verses  against  Gar- 
nesche ;  but  the  two  Scottish  poets  are  supposed 
to  have  carried  on  a  sportive  warfare  of  rude 
raillery,  while  a  real  animosity'  seems  to  have  ex- 


1  "  Sithe  ye  haue  me  chalyngyd,  Mfaster]   Ganiesche," 
&c.;  see  vol.  i.  132.' 

2  In  the  Notes  on  the  poems  Against  Garnesche  I  have  cited 
several  parallel  expressions  from  The  Flyting  of  Duinbar  and 
Kennedy.     That  curious  production  may  be  found  in  the 
valuable  edition  of  Dunbar's  Poems  (ii.  65)  by  Mr.  D.  Laing, 
who  supposes  it  to  have  been  written  between  1492  and  1497 
(ii.  420.)     It  therefore  preceded  the  "  flyting  "  of  Skelton  and 
Garnesche.    I  may  add,  that  the  last  portion  of  our  author's 
Speke,  Parrot  bears  a  considerable  resemblance  to  a  copy  of 
verses  attributed  to  Dunbar,  and  entitled  A   General  Satyre 
(Poems,  ii.  24);  and  that  as  the  great  Scottish  poet  visited 
England  more  than  once,  it  is  probable  that  he  and  Skelton 
were  personally  acquainted. 


xlii  SOME    ACCOUNT    OF 

isted  between  our  author  and  his  adversary.1  At 
the  time  of  this  quarrel  (the  exact  date  of  which 
cannot  be  determined)  Christopher  Garnesche  was 
gentleman  usher  to  Henry  the  Eighth,  and  digni- 
fied with  knighthood;2  and  (if  Skelton  may  be 
credited)  had  risen  from  the  performance  of  very 
menial  offices  to  the  station  which  he  then  occu- 
pied. As  he  had  no  claims  on  the  remembrance 
of  posterity,  little  is  known  concerning  him  ;  but 
since  we  have  evidence  that  his  services  were 
called  for  on  more  than  one  occasion  of  import- 
ance, he  must  have  been  a  person  of  considerable 
note.  He  is  twice  incidentally  mentioned  in  con- 
nection with  the  royal  sisters  of  Henry  the  Eighth. 
In  1514,  when  the  Princess  Mary  embarked  for 
France,  in  order  to  join  her  decrepit  bridegroom 
Louis  the  Twelfth,  Garnesche  formed  one  of  the 
numerous  retinue  selected  to  attend  her,  and  had 
an  opportunity  of  particularly  distinguishing  him- 
self during  that  perilous  voyage  :  "  The  ii.  daye 
of  October  at  the  hower  of  foure  of  the  clocke  in 
the  morenyngethys  fayre  ladye  tooke  her  ship  with 

1  At  a  later  period  there  was  a  poetical  "  flyting  "  between 
Churchyard  and  a  person  named  Camel,  who  had  attacked  a 
publication  of  the  former  called  Davie  Dlcars  Dreame ;  and 
some  other  writers  took  a  part  in  the  controversy :  these  rare 
pieces  (known  only  by  tlieir  titles  to  Ritson,  Blbliog.  Pwl. 
p.  151,  and  to  Chalmers,  Life  of  Churchyard,  p.  63)  are  very 
dull  and  pointless,  but  were  evidently  put  forth  in  earnest. 

2  In  the  first  poem  Against  Garnesche  he  is  called  "  Mat- 
ter :  "  but  see  Notes,  vol.  iii.  123. 


SKELTON    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  xliii 

all  her  noble  compaignie  ;  and  when  they  had 
sayled  a  quarter  of  the  see,  the  wynde  rose  and 
seuered  some  of  the  shyppes  to  Caleys,  and  some 
in  Flaunders,  and  her  shippe  with  greute  diffi- 
cultie  was  brought  to  Bulleyn,  and  with  great 
ieopardy  at  the  entryng  of  the  hauen,  for  the 
master  ran  the  ship  hard  on  shore,  but  the  botes 
were  redy  and  receyued  this  noble  lady,  and  at  the 
landyng  Sir  Christopher  Garnyshe  stode  in  the 
water,  and  toke  her  in  his  armes,  and  so  caryed 
her  to  land,  where  the  Duke  of  Vandosme  and  a 
Cardynall  with  many  estates  receyued  her  and 
her  ladyes,"  *  &c.  Again,  in  a  letter,  dated  Har- 
bottle  18th  Oct.  1515,  from  Lord  Dacre  of  Gilles- 
land  and  T.  Magnus  to  Henry  the  Eighth,  con- 
cerning the  confinement  in  childbed  of  Margaret 
widow  of  James  the  Fourth,  &c.  we  find  ; ."  Sir 
Christofer  Garneis  came  to  Morpeth  immediatly 
vpon  the  queneis  delyueraunce,  and  by  our  aduice 
hath  contynued  there  with  suche  stuff  as  your 
grace  hath  sent  to  the  said  quene  your  suster  till 
Sondaye  laste  paste,  whiche  daye  he  delyuered 
your  letter  and  disclosed  your  credence,  gretely 
to  the  quenes  comforte.  And  for  somiche  as  the 
quene  lieth  as  yet  in  childe  bedde,  and  shall  kepe 
her  chumbre  these  thre  wookes  at  the  leiste,  we 
haue  aduise  the  said  sir  Christofer  Garneis  to  re- 
maigne  at  Morpeth  till  the  queneis  comyng  thid- 

l  Hall's  Chron.  («.  yere  Hen.  viii.)  fol.  xlviii.  ed.  1548. 


Xliv  SOME    ACCOUNT    OF 

der,  and  then  her  grace  may  order  and  prepare 
euery  parte  of  the  said  stuf  after  her  pleasure  and 
as  her  grace  semeth  moste  conuenient,"  &C.1  A 
few  particulars  concerning  Garnesche  may  be 
gleaned  from  the  Books  in  the  Public  Record 
Office: 

(Easter  Term,  18  Hen.  vii.)  "  Cristofero  J 

Garneys  de  regardo  de  denariis  per  Jo-  >  xl.  H." 
hannein  Crawford  et  al.  per  manuc.  for.2  ) 

(i.  e.  in  reward  out  of  moneys  forfeited  by  John 
Crawford  and  another  upon  bail-bond,) 

(1st  Henry  viii.)  "  Item  to  Cristofer  Gar--* 
nisshe  for  the  kinges  offring  at  S.  Ed-  I    •         ...    ,,, 
•wardes  sliiryue  the  next  day  after  the  f 
Coronacion 8  J 

(Easter  Term,  1-2  Henry  viii.)"  Cristofero} 
Garneys  vni  generosorum  hostiariorum 
regis   [one  of   the   king's    gentlemen-  [•  x.  li. 
ushers]  de  annuitate  sua  durante  regis  j 
beneplacito  per  annum  J 

Eidem  Cristofero  de  feodo  suo  ad  xx.  K.  )         j.  „ 
per  annum  pro  termino  vite  sue  *  ( 

and  we  find  that  afterwards  by  letters  patent  dated 
21st  May,  7th  Henry  viii.,  in  consideration  of  his 
services  the  king  granted  him  an  annuity  of  thirty 


1  MS.  Cott.  Calig.  B.  vi.  fol.  112. 

2  Auditor's  Calendar  of  Files  from  1485  to  1522,  fol.  108  (b). 
«  Priry  Purse  Accounts,  A.  5.  16.  p.  21. 

«  Auditor's  Calendar,  &c.  fol.  162  (b). 


SKELTON    AND    HIS    WHITINGS.  xlv 

pounds  for  life,  payable  half-yearly  at  the  Exche- 
quer.1 

(llth  Henry  viii.)  "  Item  to  Sir  Christofer 
Garnisshe  knight  opon  a  warraunt  for 
the  hyre  of  his  howse  at  Grenewyche  2 
at  x.  II.  by  the  yere  for  one  half  a  yere 
due  at  Ester  last  and  so  after  half  yerely 
during  x  yeres  3 

(20th  Henry  viii.)   "  Cristofero  Gamyshe^ 
militi  de  annuitate  sua  ad  xxx  /.  per 
breve  currens  Rec.  den.  profesto  Michls  }.  xxx.  li." 
ult.  pret.  viz.  pro  vno  anno  integro  per  j 
rnanus  Ricardi  Alen  *  J 

see  above :  this  entry  is  several  times   repeated, 
and  occurs  for  the  last  time  in  26th  Henry  viii.6 

1  Auditor's  Patent  Book,  No.  1.  fol.  6  (b). 

2  In  an  account  of  the  visit  of  the  Emperor  Charles  the 
Fifth  to  England  in  June  1522,  among  the  lodgings  which 
were  occupied  on  that  occasion  at  Greenwich  we  find  men- 
tion of  "  Master  Garnyshe  house."     See  Rutland  Papers,  p.  82, 
(printed  for  the  Camden  Society.)     That  a  knight  was  fre- 
quently called  "  Master,"  I  have  shewn  in  Notes,  vol.  iii.  123. 

8  Privy  Purse  Accounts,  A.  5,  17.  p.  175. 

*  Teller's  Book,  A.  3.  24.  p.  293. 

6  To  these  notices  of  Garnesche  I  may  add  the  following 
letter,  the  original  of  which  is  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  J.  P. 
Collier: 

"  Pleas  it  your  grace,  We  haue  Receyued  the  Kyngs  most 
graciouse  letres  dated  at  his  manour  of  grenwich  the  Xth  day 
of  Aprill,  Wherby  we  peroeyue  his  high  pleasour  is  that  we 
shulde  take  some  substanciall  direccion  for  the  preparacion 
and  furnyshing  of  all  maner  of  vitailles  aswell  for  man  as  for 
horse,  to  bee  had  in  Redynesse  against  the  commyng  of  his 
grace,  his  nobles  with  ther  trayn ;  Like  it  your  grace,  so  it  is 
We  haue  not  been  in  tymes  past  so  greatly  and  sore  destitute 


xlvi  SOME    ACCOUNT    OF 

Bale  mentions  among  the  writings  of  Alexander 


this  many  yeres  past  of  all  maner  of  vitailles  both  for  man 
and  beist  as  we  be  now,  not  oonly  by  reason  of  a  gret  mun-yn 
of  catall  which  hath  ben  in  thies  partes,  but  also  for  that  the 
Kings  takers,  lieug  about  the  borders  of  the  see  coste  next 
adionyng  vnto  vs,  haue  takyn  and  made  provision  therof 
contrarie  to  the  olde  ordnannce,  so  that  we  be  vtterly  destitute 
by  reason  of  the  same,  and  can  in  no  wise  make  any  sub- 
stanciall  provision  for  his  highnes  nor  his  trayn  in  thies  partes, 
for  all  the  bochers  in  this  toun  haue  not  substaunce  of  beoffs 
and  motones  to  serue  vs,  as  we  be  accompanyed  at  this  day, 
for  the  space  of  iii  wekes  att  the  most.  And  also  as  now  ther 
is  not  within  this  toun  of  Calais  fewell  sufficient  to  serue  vs 
oon  hole  weke,  the  which  is  the  great  daunger  and  vnsuretie 
of  this  the  Kings  toun.  Wherfore  we  most  humbly  besuch 
your  grace,  the  premisses  considered,  that  we  by  your  gra- 
cious and  fauorable  helpe  may  haue  not  oonly  Remedy  for 
our  beiffs  and  motones  with  other  vitailles,  but  also  that  all 
maner  of  vitaillers  of  this  toun  may  repair  and  resorte  with 
ther  shippes  from  tyme  to  tyme  to  make  ther  purveyance  of 
all  maner  of  fewell  from  hensfurth  for  this  toun  oonly,  with- 
out any  let  or  Interrupcionn  of  the  kings  officers  or  takers, 
any  commandment  hertofore  giffen  to  the  contrarie  not  with- 
standing, for  without  that  both  the  Kings  Highnes,  your  grace, 
and  all  this  toun  shalbe  vtterly  disappoynted  and  disceyved 
both  of  vitailles  and  fewell,  which  god  defend.  At  Calais 
the  xviii">-day  of  Aprill, 

By  your  seruants, 
John  Peache, 

Wyllym  Sandys,  Robert  Wotton, 

Edward  Guldeferd,         Crysto/yr  Garneys. 
To  my  Lorde  cardynalls  grace, 

Legnte  a  Latere  and  chan- 

celer  of  England." 

In  Proceed,  and  Ordin.  of  the  Privy  Council  (vol.  vii.  1S3, 
196),  1541,  mention  is  made  of  a  Lady  Garnishe  (probably  the 
widow  of  Sir  Christopher)  having  had  a  house  at  Calais;  and 


SKELTON    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  xlvii 

Barclay  a  piece  "  against  Skelton."  1  It  has  not 
come  down  to  us  ;  but  the  extant  works  of  Bar- 
clay bear  testimony  to  the  hearty  dislike  with  which 
he  regarded  our  author.  At  the  conclusion  of  The 
Ship  of  Fools  is  this  contemptuous  notice  of  one 
of  Skelton's  most  celebrated  poems ; 

"  Holde  me  excused,  for  why  my  will  is  good 
Men  to  induce  vnto  vertue  and  goodnes ; 
I  write  no  ieste  ne  tale  of  Robin  Hood, 
Nor  sowe  no  sparkles  ne  sede  of  viciousnes; 
Wise  men  loue  vertue,  wilde  people  wantonnes ; 
It  longeth  not  to  my  science  nor  cunning, 
For  Philip  (he  Sparow  the,  Dirige  to  singe : "  3 

a  sneer  to  which  Skelton  most  probably  alludes, 
when,  enumerating  his  own  productions  in  the 
Garlande  of  Laurell,  he  mentions, 

"  Of  Phillip  Sparow  the  lamentable  fate, 

The  dolefull  desteny,  and  the  carefull  chaunce, 

Dyuysed  by  Skelton  after  the  funerall  rate ; 
Yet  sum  there  be  therewith  that  take  greuaunce, 
And  grudge  therat  wlthfrownyng  countenaunce  ; 

But  what  of  that?  hard  it  is  to  please  all  men; 

Who  list  amende  it,  let  hym  set  to  his  penne."  3 

That  a  portion  of  the  following  passage  in  Bar- 


in  Privy  Purse  Expenses  of  the  Princess  Mary  (p.  120)  we  find 
under  June  1543,  "  Item  my  lady  garnyshe  seruaunt  for  bring- 
ing cherys  xiirf." 

1  "  Contra  Skeltonum,  Lib.  i."    Script.  lUust.  Brit.  p.  723. 
ed.  1559. 

2  fol  259.  ed.  1570. 
«  vol.  ii.  225. 


xlviii  SOME    ACCOUNT    OF 

clay's  Fourth  Eyloge  was  levelled  at  Skelton,  ap- 
pears highly  probable ; 

"Another  thing  yet  is  greatly  more  damnable: 
Of  rascolcle  poetes  yet  is  a  shamfull  rable, 
Which  voyde  of  wisedome  presumeth  to  indite, 
Though  they  haue  scantly  the  cunning  of  a  snite;1 
And  to  what  vices  that  princes  moste  intende, 
Those  dare  these  fooles  solemnize  and  commende. 
Then  is  he  decked  as  Poete  laureate, 
When  stinking  Thais  made  him  her  graduate: 
When  Muses  rested,  she  did  her  season  note, 
And  she, with  Bacchus  her  camous  2  did  promote. 
Such  rascokle  drames,  promoted  by  Thais, 
Bacchus,  Licoris,  or  yet  by  Testalis, 
Or  by  suche  other  newe  forged  Muses  nine, 
Thinke  in  their  mindes  for  to  haue  wit  diuine; 
They  laude  their  verses,  they  boast,  they  vaunt  and  iet, 
Though  all  their  cunning  be  scantly  worth  a  pet: 
If  they  haue  smelled  the  artes  triuiall, 
They  count  them  Poetes  hye  and  heroicall. 
Such  is  their  foly,  so  foolishly  they  dote, 
Thinking  that  none  can  their  playne  errour  note : 
Yet  be  they  foolishe,  auoyde  of  honestie, 
Nothing  seasoned  with  spice  of  grauitie, 
Auoyde  of  pleasure,  auoyde  of  eloquence, 
With  many  wordes,  and  fruitlesse  of  sentence; 
Unapt  to  learne,  disdayning  to  be  taught, 
Their  priuate  pleasure  in  snare  hath  them  so  caught; 
And  worst  yet  of  all,  they  count  them  excellent, 
Though  they  be  fruitlesse,  rashe  and  improuident. 
To  such  ambages  who  doth  their  minde  incline, 
They  count  all  other  as  priuate  8  of  doctrine, 
And  that  the  faultes  which  be  in  them  alone, 
Also  be  common  in  other  men  eche  one."  4 


1  i.  e.  snipe. 

2  See  Notes,  vol.  iii.  97.     If  this  line  alludes  to  Skelton,  it 
preserves  a  trait  of  his  personal  appearance. 

8  i.  e.  deprived,  devoid.  *  sig.  c.  v.  ed.  1570. 


SKELTON   AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  xx 

In  the  Garlande  of  Laurell  we  are  told  by 
Skelton,  that  among  the  famous  writers  of  all 
ages  and  nations,  whom  he  beheld  in  his  vision,  was 

"  a  frere  of  Fraunce  men  call  sir  Gaytcyne, 

That  frownyd  on  me  full  angerly  and  pale;  "  l 

and  in  the  catalogue  of  his  own  writings  which  is 
subsequently  given  in  the  same  poem,  he  mentions 
a  piece  which  he  had  composed  against  this  per- 
sonage, 

"  The  Recuk  ageinst  Gaguyne  of  the  Frenshe  nacyoun."  2 
Robert  Gaguin  was  minister-general  of  the  Matu- 
rines,  and  enjoyed  great  reputation  for  abilities  and 
learning.8  He  wrote  various  works  ;  the  most  im- 
portant of  which  is  his  Compendium  supra  Fran- 
corum  gestis  from  the  time  of  Pharamond  to  the 
author's  age.  In  1490  he  was  sent  by  Charles 
the  Eighth  as  ambassador  to  England,  where  he 
probably  became  personally  acquainted  with  Skel- 
ton. 

That  Skelton  composed  certain  Latin  verses 
against  the  celebrated  grammarian  William  Lily, 
we  are  informed  by  Bale,4  who  has  preserved  the 
initial  words,  viz. 

"  Urgeor  impulsus  tibi,  Lilli,  retundere:  " 

i  Vol.  ii.  186.  2  Vol.  ii.  222. 

8  In  a  volume  of  various  pieces  by  Gaguin,  dated  1498,  is  a 
treatise  on  metre,  which  shews  no  mean  acquaintance  with 
the  subject. 

*  "  Jnuectiuam  in  Gull.  Lilium,  Lib.  i."  Script.  Must.  Brit. 
&c.  p.  652.  ed.  1559.  The  reader  must  not  suppose  from  the 
VOL.  I.  D 


1  SOME   ACCOUNT    OF 

and  that  Lily  repaid  our  poet  in  kind,  we  have  the 
following  prqtf ; 

"  Lilii  Hendecasyllabiin  Scheltonum  ejuscarmina  calumniantem.^ 
"  Quid  me,  Scheltone,  fronte  sic  aperta 
Carpis,  vipereo  potens  veneno  ? 
Quid  versus  trutina  meos  iniqua 
Libras?  dicere  vera  num  licebit? 
Doctrince  tibi  dum  parare  famam 
Et  doctus  fieri  studes  poeta, 
Doctrinam  nee  habes,  nee  es  poeta." 

It  would  seem  that  Skelton  occasionally  repented 
of  the  severity  of  his  compositions,  and  longed  to 
recall  them ;  for  in  the  Garlande  of  Laurell,  after 

description,  "  Lib.  i.,"  that  the  invective  in  question  extend- 
ed to  a  volume:  it  was,  1  presume,  no  more  than  a  copy 
of  verses.  Wood  mentions  that  this  piece  was  "  written 
in  verse  and  very  carping."  Aili.  Ox.  i.  52.  ed.  Bliss:  but 
most  probably  he  was  acquainted  with  it  only  through  Bale. 
He  also  informs  us  (i.  34)  that  Lily  wrote  a  tract  entitled 

(  Joh.  Skeltonum. 
«  Apologia  ad  j  ^  wmingim."  for  a  copy  of  which  I  have 

sought  in  vain. 

i  See  Weever's  Fun.  Monum.  p.  498.  ed.  1631 ;  Stowe's  Col- 
lections, MS.  Harl.  640.  fol.  67;  and  Fuller's  Worthies,  (Nor- 
folk,) p.  257.  ed.  1662.  "  And  this,"  says  Fuller,  "  I  will  do 
for  W.  Lilly,  (though  often  beaten  for  his  sake,)  endeavour 
to  translate  his  answer: 

"  With  face  so  bold,  Mid  teeth  so  sharp, 
Of  viper's  venome,  why  dost  carp? 
Why  are  my  verses  by  thee  weigh'd 
In  'a  false  scale  ?  may  truth  be  said  ? 
Whilst  thou  to  get  the  more  esteem 
A  learned  Poet  fain  wouldst  seem, 
Skelton,  thou  art,  let  all  men  know  it, 
Neither  learned,  nor  a  Poet." 


SKELTON    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  Jl 

many  of  them  have  been  enumerated,  we  mete  with 
the  following  curious  passage  ; 

"  Item  Apollo  that  whirllid  vp  his  chare, 
That  made  sum  to  snurre  and  snuf  in  the  wynde ; 
It  made  them  to  skip,  to  stampe,  and  to  stare, 
Whiche,  if  they  be  happy,  haue  cause  to  beware 
In  ryming  and  raylyng  with  hym  for  to  mell 
For  drede  that  he  lerne  them  there  A,  B,  C,  to  spell. 

With  that  I  stode  vp,  halfe  sodenly  afrayd; 

Suppleyng  to  Fame,  I  besought  her  grace, 
And  that  it  ivolde  please  her,  full  tenderly  Jprayd, 

Oict  of  her  bokis  Apollo  to  rase. 

Nay,  sir,  she  sayd,  what  so  in  this  place 
Of  our  noble  courte  is  ones  spoken  owte, 
It  must  nedes  after  rin  all  the  worlde  aboute. 

God  wote,  theis  wordes  made  me  full  sad; 

And  when  that  I  sawe  it  wolde  no  better  be, 
But  that  my  peticyon  wolde  not  be  had, 

What  shulde  I  do  but  take  it  in  gre  ? 

For,  by  Juppiter  and  his  high  mageste, 
1  did  what  I  cowde  to  scrape  out  the  scrollis, 
Apollo  to  rase  out  of  her  ragman  rollis."  1 

The  piece  which  commenced  with  the  words 
"Apollo  that  whirllid  vp  his  chare,"  and  which 
gave  such  high  displeasure  to  some  of  Skelton's 
contemporaries,  has  long  ago  perished, — in  spite 
of  Fame's  refusal  to  erase  it  from  her  books ! 

The  title-page  of  the  Garlands  of  Laurett,2  ed. 
1523,  sets  forth  that  it  was  "  studyously  dyusysed 
at  Sheryfhotton  Castell"  in  Yorkshire  ;  and  there 
seems  no  reason  to  doubt  that  it  was  written  by 
Skelton  during  a  residence  at  that  mansion.  The 

i  Vol.  ii.  235.  2  See  vol.  ii.  170. 


Hi  SOME   ACCOUNT    OF 

date  of  its  composition  is  unknown  ;  but  it  was 
certainly  produced  at  an  advanced  period  of  his 
life  ; l  and  the  Countess  of  Surrey,  who  figures  in 
it  so  conspicuously  as  his  patroness,  must  have 
been  Elizabeth  Stafford,  daughter  of  Edward 
Duke  of  Buckingham,  second  wife  of  Thomas 
Howard  Earl  of  Surrey,  and  mother  of  that  illus- 
trious Surrey  "  whose  fame  for  aye  endures." 
Sheriff-Hutton  Castle  was  then  in  the  possession 
of  her  father-in-law,  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,2  the 
victor  of  Flodden  Field  ;  and  she  was  probably 
there  as  his  guest,  having  brought  Skelton  in  her 
train.  Of  this  poem,  unparalleled  for  its  egotism, 
the  greater  part  is  allegorical ;  but  the  incident 
from  which  it  derives  its  name, — the  weaving  of 
a  garland  for  the  author  by  a  party  of  ladies,  at 
the  desire  of  the  Countes,  seems  to  have  had  some 
foundation  in  fact. 

From  a  passage  in  the  poem  just  mentioned,  we 
may  presume  that  Skelton  used  sometimes  to  re- 
side at  the  ancient  college  of  the  Bonhommes  at 
Ashridge  ; 

"  Of  the  Bonehoms  of  Ashrige  besyde  Barkamstede, 

That  goodly  place  to  Skelton  moost  kynde, 
Where  the  sank  royall  is,  Crystes  blode  so  rede, 
Whervpon  he  metrefyde  after  his  mynde ; 
A  pleasaunter  place  than  Ashrige  is,  harde  were  to 
fynde,"  &c.« 

1  See  Notes,  vol.  iii.  325. 

2  It  was  granted  to  him  by  the  king  for  life. 

8  Vol.  ii.  235.    Concerning  this  college,  see  Notes,  vol.  iii.  349. 


SKELTON    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  illl 

That  Skelton  once  enjoyed  the  patronage  of 
Wolsey,  at  whose  desire  he  occasionally  exercised 
his  pen,  and  from  whose  powerful  influence  he 
expected  preferment  in  the  church,  we  learn  from 
the  following  passages  in  his  works : 

"  Honorificatissimo,  amplisssmo,  longeque  reverendissimo 
in  Christo  patri,  ac -domino,  domino  Thomas,  &c.  tituli  sanctse 
Ceciliae,  sacrosanctse  Romanae  ecclesiae  presbytero,  Cardinal! 
meritissimo,  et  apostolicse  sedis  legato,  a  latereque  legato 
superillustri,  &c.  Skeltonis  laureatus,  ora.  reg.,  humillimum 
dicit  obsequium  cum  omni  debita  reverentia,  tanto  tamque 
magnifico  digna  principe  sacerdotum,  totiusque  justitia?  aequa- 
bilissimo  moderatore,  necnon  prsesentis  opusculi  fautore  ex- 
cellentissimo,  &c.,  ad  cujus  auspicatissimam  contemplationem, 
sub  memorabili  prelo  gloriosae  immortalitatis,  prsesens  pagella 
felicitatur,  &c."  1 

"Ad  serenissimam  Majestatem  Regiam,  pariter  cum  Dominc 
Cardinal!,  Legato  a  latere  honorificatissimo,  &c. 

Lautre   Envoy. 

Perge,  liber,  celebrem  pronus  regem  venerare 
Henricum  octavum,  resonans  sua  proemia  laudis. 
Cardineum  dominum  pariter  venerando  salutes, 
Legatum  a  latere,  et  fiat  memor  ipse  precare 
Prebendse,  quam  promisit  mihi  credere  quondam, 
Meque  suum  referas  pignus  sperare  salutis 
Inter  spemque  metum. 


1  A  Replycacian  agaynst  certayne  yong  scolers  abiured  of  late, 
$c.  vol.  i.  230.  In  Typograph.  Antiq.  ii.  639.  ed.  Dibdin, 
where  the  Replycation  is  described  and  quoted  from  Heber's 

copy,  we  are  told  that  it  has  "  a  Latin  address  to  Thomas 

•who  [sic]  he  [Skelton]  calls  an  excellent  patron,"  &c.  That 
the  editor  should  have  read  the  address  without  discovering 
that  the  said  Thomas  was  Cardinal  Wolsey,  is  truly  marvel- 
lous. 


v  SOME    ACCOUNT    OF 

Twene  hope  and  drede 
My  lyfe  I  lede, 
But  of  my  spede 

Small  sekernes; 
Howe  be  it  I  rede 
Both  worde  and  dede 
Should  be  agrede 

In  noblenes : 
Or  els,  &c."  i 

u  To  my  Lorde  Cardynals  right  noble  grace,  &c. 

Lenuoy. 

Go,  lytell  quayre,  apace, 
-.  In  moost  humble  wyse, 
Before  his  noble  grace, 

That  caused  you  to  deuise 

This  lytel  enterprise ; 
And  hym  moost  lowly  pray, 

In  his  mynde  to  comprise 
Those  wordes  his  grace  dyd  saye 
Of  an  ammas  gray. 
lefoy  interment  en  sa  bone  grace."  2 

We  also  find  that  Skelton  "  gaue  to  my  lord  Car- 
dynall "  The  Boke  of  Three  Fooles* 

What  were  the  circumstances  which  afterwards 
alienated  the  poet  from  his  powerful  patron,  can- 
not now  be  discovered  :  we  only  know  that  Skel- 
ton assailed  the  full-blown  pride  of  Wolsey  with 
a  boldness  which  is  astonishing,  and  with  a  fierce- 


1  Garlande  ofLaurell,  vol.  ii.  241. 

2  See  vol.  ii.  339.  where  this  Lenuoy  (which  will  be  more 
particularly  noticed  presently)  is  appended  to  the  poem  Howe 
the  dvuty  Duke  of  Albany,  &c. 

8  Vol.  i.  221. 


SKELTON    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  Iv 

ness  of  invective  which  has  seldom  been  surpassed. 
Perhaps  it  would  have  been  better  for  the  poet's 
memory,  if  the  passages  just  quoted  had  never 
reached  us  ;  but  nothing  unfavourable  to  his  char- 
acter ought  to  be  hastily  inferred  from  the  alter- 
ation in  his  feelings  towards  Wolsey  while  the 
cause  of  their  quarrel  is  buried  in  obscurity.  The 
provocation  must  have  been  extraordinary,  which 
transformed  the  humble  client  of  the  Cardinal  into 
his  "  dearest  foe." 

We  are  told  by  Francis  Thynne,  that  Wolsey 
was  his  father's  "  olde  enymye,  for  mauye  causes, 
but  mostly  for  that  my  father  had  furthered  Skel- 
ton  to  publishe  his  Collin  Cloute  againste  the  Car- 
dinall,  the  moste  parte  of  whiche  Booke  was  com- 
piled in  my  father's  howse  at  Erithe  in  Kente."  * 
But  though  Colyn  Cloute  contains  passages  which  ' 
manifestly  point  at  Wolsey,  it  cannot  be  termed  a 
piece  "  againste  the  Cardinall:"  and  I  have  no 
doubt  that  the  poem  which  Thynne  had  in  view, 
and  which  by  mistake  he  has  mentioned  under  a 
wrong  title,  was  our  author's  Why  come  ye  nat  to 
Courte.  In  Golyn  Cloute  Skelton  ventured  to  "•" 
aim  only  a  few  shafts  at  Wolsey :  in  Why  come 

1  Animadversions  vppon  the  annotations  and  corrections  of  some 
imperfectons  of  impressones  of  Chaucers  Workes,  &c.  p.  13, — iu 
Todd's  lllust.  of  Cower  and  Chaucer. 

I  may  notice  here,  that  among  the  Harleian  3fSS.  (2252, 
fols.  156,  158)  are  two  poems  on  the  Cardinal,  which  in  the 
Catalogue  of  that  collection  Wanley  has  described  as  "  Skel- 
ton's  libel? ; "  but  they  are  evidently  not  by  him. 


Ivi  SOME   ACCOUNT    OP 

ye  not  to    Courte,  and  in   Speke,  Parrot,  he  let 
loose  against  him  the  full  asperity  of  reproach. 

The  bull  appointing  Wolsey  and  Campeggio  to 
be  legates  a  latere  jointly,  is  dated  July  27th,  1518, 
that  appointing  Wolsey  to  be  sole  Legate  a  latere 
10th  June,  1519  ;  *  and  from  the  first  two  passa- 
ges which  I  have  cited  above  (p.  liii.)  we  as- 
certain the  fact,  that  Wolsey  continued  to  be  the 
patron  of  Skelton  for  at  least  some  time  after  he 
had  been  invested  with  the  dignity  of  papal  legate. 
If  the  third  passage  cited  above  (p.  liv.)  "  Go  lytell 
quayre,  apace,"  &c.  really  belong  to  the  poem 
How  the  douty  Duke  of  Albany,  &c.  to  which  it 
is  appended  in  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Workes, 
1568,  our  author  must  have  been  soliciting  Wol- 
sey for  preferment  as  late  as  November  1523 :  but 
his  most  direct  satire  on  the  Cardinal,  Why  come 
ye  not  to  Courte,  was  evidently  composed  anterior 
to  that  period;  and  his  Speke,  Parrot  (which 
would  require  the  scolia  of  a  Tzetzes  to  render  it 
intelligible)  contains  seeming  allusions  to  events 
of  a  still  earlier  date.  The  probability  (or  rather 

1  Wolsey  had  previously  been  named  a  Cardinal  in  1515. — 
Fiddes  (Life  of  Wolsey,  p.  99.  ed.  1726)  says  that  he  became 
Legate  a  latere  in  1516:  but  see  Stale  Papers  (1830,)  i.  9  (note.) 
Lingard's  Hist,  of  Engl.  vi.  57.  ed.  8vo,  &c. — Hoping  to  ascer- 
tain the  exact  date  of  the  Eeplycadon,  &c.  (which  contains 
the  first  of  the  passages  now  under  consideration,)  I  have 
consulted  various  books  for  some  mention  of  the  "young 
hereticks "  against  whom  that  piece  was  written;  but  with- 
out success. 


SKELTON    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  Ivil 

certainty)  is,  that  the  L'Envoy,  "Go,  lytell 
quayre,"  <fcc.  has  no  connexion  with  the  poem  on 
the  Duke  of  Albany  :  in  Marshe's  volume  the 
various  pieces  are  thrown  together  without  any 
attempt  at  arrangement ;  and  it  ought  to  be  par- 
ticularly noticed  that  between  the  poem  against 
Albany  and  the  L'Envoy  in  question,  another 
L 'Envoy  is  interposed?  Wolsey  might  have  for- 
given the  allusions  made  to  him  in  Colyn  Cloitte  ; 
but  it  would  be  absurd  to  imagine  that,  in  1523, 
he  continued  to  patronize  the  man  who  had  writ- 
ten Why  come  ye  not  to  Courts, 

The  following  anecdote  is  subjoined  from  Hall : 
"And  in  this  season  [15  Henry  viii.]  the  Cardi- 
nall  by  his  power  legantine  dissolued  the  Conuo- 
cacion  at  Paules,  called  by  the  Archebishop  of 
Canterbury  [Warham,]  and  called  hym  and  all  the 
clergie  to  his  conuocacion  to  Westminster,  which 
was  neur  seen  before  in  Englande,  wherof  master 
Skelton,  a  rnery  Poet,  wrote, 

Gentle  Paule,  laie  doune  thy  sweard,2 

For  Peter  of  Westminster  hath  shauen  thy  beard."  3 

1  We  cannot  settle  this  point  by  a  comparison  of  old  edi- 
tions, the  poem  against  Albany  and  the  two  L' Envoys  which 
follow  it  being  extant  only  in  the  ed.  of  Marshe.— It  may  be 
doubted,  too,  if  the  L'Euvoy  which  I  have  cited  at  p.  liii. 
"Perye,  liber,"  &c.   belongs  to  the  Garlande  of  Laurdi,  to 
which  it  is  affixed  in  Marshe's  edition  as  a  second  L'Euvoy: 
in  Faukes's  edition  of  that  poem,  which  I  conceive  to  be  the 
first  that  was  printed,  it  is  not  found:  the  Cott.  MS.  of  the 
Garlande  is  unfortunately  imperfect  at  the  end. 

2  i.  e.  sword.  3  Chron.  (Hen.  viii.)  fol.  ex.  ed.  1548. 


Iviii  SOME   ACCOUNT    OF 

From  the  vengeance  of  the  Cardinal,1  who  had 
sent  out  officers  to  apprehend  him,  Skelton  took 
sanctuary  at  Westminster,  where  he  was  kindly 
received  and  protected  by  the  abbot  Islip,2  with 


1  "  Ob  literas  quasdam  in  Cardinalem  Vuolsium  inuectiuas, 
ad  Vuestmonasteriense  tandem  asylum  confugere,  pro  uita 
seruanda,  coactus  fuit:    ubi  nihilominus  sub  abbate  Islepo 
fauorem  inuenit."     Bale,  Script,  lllust.  Brit.  p.  651.  ed.  1559.— 
"  Vbi  licet  Abbatis  Islepi  fauore  protegeretur,  tamen  vitam 
ibi,  quantumuis  antea  iucunde  actam,  tristi  exitu  conclusit." 
Pits,  De  lUust.  Angl.  Script,  p.  701.  ed.  1619.—"  But  Cardinal 
Wolsey  (impar  conyressits,  betwixt  a  poor  Poet  and  so  potent 
a  Prelate)  being  inveighed  against  by  his  pen.  and  charged 
with  too  much  truth,  so  persecuted  him,  that  he  was  forced 
to  take  Sanctuary  at  Westminster,  where  Abbot  Islip  used 
him  with  much  respect,"  &c.     Fuller's  Worthies,  (Norfolk,) 
p.  257.  ed.  1662. — "He  [Skelton]  was  so  closely  pursued  by 
his  [Wolsey's]  officers,  that  he  was  forced  to  take  sanctuary 
at  Westminster,  where  he  was  kindly  entertained  by  John 
Islipp  the  abbat,  and  continued  there  to  the  time  of  his  death." 
Wood's  Alh.  Oxon.  i.  51.  ed.  Bliss,  who  adds  in  a  note ;  "  The 
original  MS.  register  of  this  sanctuary,  which  must  have 
been  a  great  curiosity,  was  in  Sir  Henry  Spelman's  library, 
and  was  purchased  at  the  sale  of  that  collection  by  Wanley 
for  Lord  Weymouth.     MS.  note  in  Wanley's  copy  of  Nichol- 
son's Historical  Library  in  the  Bodleian." 

2  John  Islip  was  elected  abbot  in  1500,  and  died  in  1532: 
see  Widmore's  Hist,  of  West.  Abbey.  119,  123.     "  John  Skel- 
ton ....  is  said  by  the  late  learned  Bishop  of  Derry,  Nichol- 
son (Hist.  Lib.  chap.  2.)  to  have  first  collected  the  Epitaphs 
of  our  Kings,  Princes,  and  Nobles,  that  lie  buried  at  the  Ab- 
bey Church  of  Westminster:  but  I  apprehend  this  to  be  no 
otherwise  true,  than  that,  when  he,  to  avoid  the  anger  of 
Cardinal  Wolsey,  had  taken  sanctuary  at  Westminster,  to 
recommend  himself  to  Islip,  the  Abbot  at  that  time,  he  made 
some  copies  of  verses  to  the  memories  of  King  Henry  the 


SKELTON    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  lix 

whom  he  had  been  long  acquainted.  In  this  asy- 
lum he  appears  to  have  remained  till  his  death, 
which  happened  June  21st,  1529.  What  he  is 
reported  to  have  declared  on  his  death-bed  con- 
cerning the  woman  whom  he  had  secretly  married, 
and  by  whom  he  left  several  children,  has  been 
already  mentioned  : 1  he  is  said  also  to  have  ut- 
tered at  the  same  time  a  prophecy  concerning  the 
downfall  of  Wolsey.2  He  was  buried  in  the  chan- 
cel of  the  neighbouring  church  of  St.  Margaret's  ; 


Seventh  and  his  Queen,  and  his  mother  the  Countess  of  Rich- 
mond, and  perhaps  some  other  persons  buried  in  this  church." 
Account  of  Writers,  &c.  p.  5,  appended  to  Widmore's  Enquiry 
into  the  time  of  the  found,  of  West.  Abbey. — Widmore  is  mis- 
taken: neither  in  Harshe's  ed.  of  Skeltou's  Workes,  1568,  nor 
in  the  Reges,  Regime,  Nobiles,  &c.,  1603,  is  there  any  copy  of 
verses  by  our  author  on  the  Queen  of  Henry  the  Seventh:  see 
in  vol.  i.  198,  199,  217,  the  three  pieces  which  I  have  given 
from  those  sources :  two  of  them  at  least  were  composed 
before  the  poet  had  sought  refuge  at  Westminster,  for  one 
(written  at  Islip's  request)  is  dated  1512,  and  another,  1516: 
the  third  has  no  date. 

1  See  p.  xxxix. 

2  "  De  morte  Cardinalis  uaticinium  edidit:  &  eius  uerita- 
tem  euentus  declarauit."     Bale,  Script,  lllust.  Brit.  p.  652. 
ed.  1559.—"  The  word  Vales  being  Poet  or  Prophet,  minds 
me  of  this  dying  Skeltons  prediction,  foretelling  the  ruine  of 
Cardinal  Wolsey.     Surely,  one  unskilled  in  prophecies,  if 
well  versed  in  Solomons  Proverbs,  might  have  prognosticated 
as  much,  that  Pride  goeth  before  a  fall."     Fuller's  Worthies, 
(Norfolk,)  p.  257.  ed.  1662.— Did  not  this  anecdote  originate 
in  certain  verses  of  Colyn  Cloute  f    See  the  fragment  from 
Lansdown  MSB.  vol.  ii.  141,  note. 


IX  SOME    ACCOUNT    OP 

and,  soon  after,  this  inscription  was  placed  over 
his  grave, 

Joannes  Skeltonus,  vates  Pierius,  hie  situs  esl.1 
Concerning  the  personal  appearance  of  Skelton 
we  are  left  in  ignorance  ;  2  for  the  portraits  which 
are  prefixed  to  the  old  editions  of  several  of  his 
poems  must  certainly  not  be  received  as  authentic 
representations  of  the  author.3 

1 "  Vuestmonasterii  tandem,  captiuitatis  SUZE  tempore,  mor- 
tuus  est :  &  in  D.  Margaritas  sacello  sepultus,  cum  hac  in- 
scriptione  alabastrica:  Johannes  Skeltonus,  uates  Pierius,  hie 
situs  est.  Aniinam  egit  21  die  Junii,  anno  Diii  1529,  relictis 
liberis."  Bale,  Sciipt.  Jllust.  Brit.  p.  652.  ed.  1559.  See 
also  Pits  (De  Must.  Angl.  Script,  p.  703.  ed.  1619)  and  Fuller 
(  Worthies,  Norfolk,  p.  257.  ed.  1662,)  who  give  Joannes  Seel- 
tonus  vates  Pierius  hie  situs  est  as  the  whole  of  Skelton's  epi- 
taph. Weever,  however  (Fun.  Monum.  p.  497.  ed.  1631,) 
makes  "  animam  egit,  21  Junii  1529  "  a  portion  of  it,  and  in  a 
marginal  note  substitutes  "  ejicit"  for  "  egit,"  as  if  correcting 
the  Latinity ! !  So  too  Wood  (Ath.  Oxon.  i.  52.  ed.  Bliss.) 
who  places  "  ejicit  "  between  brackets  after  "  eyit,"  and  states 
(what  the  other  writers  do  not  mention)  that  the  inscription 
WHS  put  on  the  tomb  "  soon  after"  Skelton's  death. 

In  the  Church-  Wardens  Accompts  of  St.  MuryartVs,  West- 
minster (Nichols's  Jllust.  of  Manners  and  Expences,  &c.  4to. 
p.  9,)  we  find  this  entry; 

£.  s.  d. 

"  1529.  Item,  of  Mr.  Skelton  for  viii  tapers  .    .    028" 

The  institution  of  the  person  who  succeeded  Skelton  as 
rector  of  Diss  is  dated  17th  July :  see  first  note  on  the  present 
Memoir. 

2  See  note,  p.  xlviii. 

»  e.  g.  the  portrait  on  the  title-page  of  Dyuers  Salettys  and 
Dyties  solacyous  (evidently  from  the  press  of  Pynson ;  see  Ap- 
pendix II.  to  this  Memoir)  is  given  as  a  portrait  of  "  Doctor 


SKELTON    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  Ixi 

The  chief  satirical  productions  of  Skelton  (and 
the  bent  of  his  genius  was  decidedly  towards  sa- 
tire) are  The  Bowge  of  Courte,  Colyn  Cloute,  and 

Why  come  ye  nat  to  Courte. — In  the  first  of  these, 
an  allegorical  poem  of  considerable  invention,  he 
introduces  a  series  of  characters  delineated  with  a 
boldness  and  discrimination  which  no  preceding 
poet  had  displayed  since  the  days  of  Chaucer,  and 
which  none  of  his  contemporaries  (with  the  sole 
exception  of  the  brilliant  Dunbar)  were  able  to 
attain  :  the  merit  of  those  personifications  has  been 
allowed  even  by  Warton,  whose  ample  critique 
on  Skelton  deals  but  little  in  praise ; *  and  I  am 
somewhat  surprised  that  Mr.  D'Israeli,  who  has 
lately  come  forward  as  the  warm  eulogist  of  our 
author,2  should  have  passed  over  The  Bowge  of 

Courte  without  the  slightest  notice. —  Colyn  Cloute 


Boorde"  in  the  Boke  of  Knowledge  (see  reprint,  sig.  I);  and 
(as  Mr.  F.  R.  Atkinson  of  Manchester  obligingly  informed 
me  by  letter  some  years  ago)  the  strange  fantastic  figure  on 
the  reverse  of  the  title-page  of  Faukes's  ed.  of  the  Garlande 
ofLaurett,  1523  (poorly  imitated  in  The  Brit.  Bibliogr.  iv.  389) 
is  a  copy  of  an  early  French  print. 

1  "  Warton  has  undervalued  him  [Skelton] ;  which  is  the 
more  remarkable,  because  Warton  was  a  generous  as  well  as 
a  competent  critic.    He  seems  to  have  been  disgusted  with 
buffooneries,  which,  like  those  of  Rabelais,  were  thrown  out 
as  a  tub  for  the  whale ;  for  unless  Skelton  had  written  thus 
for  the  coarsest  palates,  he  could  not  have  poured  forth  his 
bitter  and  undaunted  satire  in  such  perilous  times."    Southey, 
Select  Works  of  Brit.  Poets,  (1831,)  p.  61. 

2  Amen,  of  Lit.  ii.  69. 


Ixii  SOME    ACCOUNT    OF 

is  a  general  satire  on  the  corruptions  of  the  Church, 
the  friars  and  the  bishops  being  attacked  alike  un- 
sparingly ;  nor,  when  Skelton  himself  pronounced 
of  this  piece  that  "  though  his  ryme  be  ragged,  it 
hath  in  it  some  pyth,"  l  did  he  overrate  its  vigour 
and  its  weighty  truth  :  Colyn  Gloute  not  only  shews 
that  fearlessness  which  on  all  occasions  distinguish- 
ed him,  but  evinces  a  superiority  to  the  prejudices 
of  his  age,  in  assailing  abuses,  which,  if  manifest  to 
his  more  enlightened  contemporaries,  few  at  least 
had  as  yet  presumed  to  censure. — In  Why  come 
ye  nat  to  Courte  the  satire  is  entirely  personal, 
and  aimed  at  the  all-powerful  minister  to  whom 
the  author  had  once  humbly  sued  for  preferment. 
While  throughout  this  remarkable  poem,  Skelton 
either  overlooks  or  denies  the  better  qualities,  the 
commanding  talents,  and  the  great  attainments  of 
Wolsey,  and  even  ungenerously  taunts  him  with 
the  meanness  of  his  origin  ;  he  fails  not  to  attack 
his  character  and  conduct  in  those  particulars 
against  which  a  satirist  might  justly  declaim, 
and  with  the  certainty  that  invectives  so  directed 
would  find  an  echo  among  the  people.  The  regal 
pomp  and  luxury  of  the  Cardinal,  his  insatiate 
ambition,  his  insolent  bearing  at  the  council-board, 
his  inaccessibility  to  suitors,  &c.  &c.  are  dwelt  on 
with  an  intensity  of  scornful  bitterness,  and  occa- 
sionally give  rise  to  vivid  descriptions  which 

Vol.  ii.  127. 


SKELTON    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  Ixiti 

history  assures  us  are  but  little  exaggerated. 
Some  readers  may  perhaps  object,  that  in  this 
poem  the  satire  of  Skelton  too  much  resembles 
the  "  oyster-knife  that  hacks  and  hews,"  to  which 
that  of  Pope  was  so  unfairly  likened  *)  ;  but  all 
must  confess  that  he  wields  his  weapbn  with  pro- 
digious force  and  skill ;  and  we  know  that  Wolsey 
writhed  under  the  wounds  which  it  inflicted. 

When  Catullus  bewailed  the  death  of  Lesbia's 
bird,  he  confined  himself  to  eighteen  lines  and 
truly  golden  lines  ;  but  Skelton,  while  lament- 
ing for  the  sparrow  that  was  "  slayn  at  Carowe," 
has  engrafted  on  the  subject  so  many  far-sought 
and  whimsical  embellishments,  that  his  epicode  is 
really  what  the  old  editions  term  it, — "  a  boke." 
Phyllyp  Sparowe  exhibits  such  fertility  and  deli- 
cacy of  fancy,  such  graceful  sportiveness,  and  such 
ease  of  expression,  that  it  might  well  be  charac- 
terized by  Coleridge  as  "  an  exquisite  and  original 
poem."  2 

In  The  Tunnyng  of  Elynour  Rummyng,  which 
would  seem  to  have  been  one  of  Skelton's  most 
popular  performances,  we  have  a  specimen  of  his 

1  "  Satire  should,  like  a  polish'd  razor,  keen, 

Wound  with  a  touch  that's  scarcely  felt  or  seen: 
Thine  is  an  oyster-knife  that  hacks  and  hews,"  &c. 

Verses  addressed  to  the  imitator  of  the  First  Satire 
of  the  Second  Book  of  Horace  (the  joint  composi- 
tion of  Lord  Hervey  and  Lady  M.  W.  Montagu.) 

2  Remains,  ii.  163. 


Ixiv  SOME   ACCOUNT    OF 

talent  for  the  low  burlesque  ; — a  description  of  a 
real  ale-wife,  and  of  the  various  gossips  who  keep 
thronging  to  her  for  liquor,  as  if  under  the  influ- 
ence of  a  spell.  If  few  compositions  of  the  kind 
have  more  coarseness  or  extravagance,  there  are 
few  which  have  greater  animation  or  a  richer 
humour. 

The  Garlande  of  Laurell,  one  of  Skelton's  long- 
est and  most  elaborate  pieces,  cannot  also  be 
reckoned  among  his  best.  It  contains,  however, 
several  passages  of  no  mean  beauty,  which  shew 
that  he  possessed  powers  for  the  higher  kind  of 
poetry,  if  he  had  chosen  to  exercise  them  ;  and 
is  interspersed  with  some  lyrical  addresses  to  the 
ladies  who  weave  his  chaplet,  which  are  very 
happily  versified.  In  one  respect  the  Garlande 
of  Laurell  stands  without  a  parallel:  the  history 
of  literature  affords  no  second  example  of  a  poet 
having  deliberately  written  sixteen  hundred  lines 
in  honour  of  himself. 

Skelton  is  to  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  fathers 
of  the  English  drama. '  His  Enterlude  of  Vertue1 
and  his  Comedy  callyd  Achademios  2  have  perish- 
ed: so  perhaps  has  his  Nigramansir ; 8  but  his 

1  "  Of  Verlu  also  the  souerayne  enterlude." 

Garlande  of  Laurett,  vol.   ii.  221. 

2  "  His  commedy,  Achademios  callyd  by  name."  Id.  p.  222. 

»  See  Appendix  II.  to  this  Memoir.— Mr.  Collier  is  mistaken 
in  supposing  Skelton's  "  paiauntis  that  were  played  in  loyows 
Garde  "  to  have  been  dramatic  compositions:  see  Notes,  vol. 
iii.  344. 


SKT.LTOX    AND    HIS    WTIITIXGS.  IxV 

Maynyfycence  is  still  extant.  To  those  who  carry 
their  acquaintance  with  our  early  play-wrights  no 
farther  back  than  the  period  of  Peele,  Greene,  and 
Marlowe,  this  "  goodly  interlude"  by  Skelton  will 
doubtless  appear  heavy  and  inartificial :  its  supe- 
riority, however,  to  the  similar  efforts  of  his  con- 
temporaries, is,  I  apprehend,  unquestionable.1 

If  our  author  did  not  invent  the  metre  which 
he  uses  in  the  greater  portion  of  his  writings,  and 
which  is  now  known  by  the  name  Skeltoniccd, 
he  was  certainly  the  first  who  adopted  it  in  poems 
of  any  length ;  and  he  employed  it  with  a  skill, 
which,  after  he  had  rendered  it  popular,  was  be- 
yond the  reach  of  his  numerous  imitators.2  "  The 
Skeltonical  short  verse,"  observes  Mr.  DTsraeli, 
speaking  of  Skelton's  own  productions,  "  contract- 
ed into  five  or  six,  and  even  four  syllables,  is  wild 
and  airy.  In  the  quick  returning  rhymes,  the 
playfulness  of  the  diction,  and  the  pungency  of 
new  words,  usually  ludicrous,  often  expressive, 
and  sometimes  felicitous,  there  is  a  stirring  spirit 
which  will  be  best  felt  in  an  audible  reading.  The 
velocity  of  his  verse  has  a  carol  of  its  own.  The 


1  A  writer,  of  whose  stupendous  ignorance  a  specimen  has 
been  already  cited  (p.  xl,  note  4,)  informs  us  that  Magnyfy- 
cence  "  is  one  of  the  dullest  plays  in  our  language."     Eminent 
Lit.  and  Scient.  Men  of  Great  Britain,  &c.  (Lardner's  Cyclop.) 
i.  281. 

2  See  Appendix  III.  to  this  Memoir,  and  Poems  attributed  to 
Skelton,  vol.  ii.  345. 

VOL.    I.  E 


1XV1  SOME   ACCOUNT    OF 

chimes  ring  in  the  ear,  and  the  thoughts  are  flung 
about  like  coruscations."  1 

Skelton  has  been  frequently  termed  a  Macaro- 
nic poet,  but  it  may  be  doubted  if  with  strict  pro- 
priety ;  for  the  passages  in  which  he  introduces 
snatches  of  Latin  and  French  are  thinly  scattered 
through  his  works.  "  This  anomalous  and  motley 
mode  of  versification,"  says  Warton,  "  is  I  believe 
supposed  to  be  peculiar  to  our  author.  I  am  not, 
however,  quite  certain  that  it  originated  with  Skel- 
ton." 2  He  ought  to  have  been  "  quite  certain  " 
that  it  did  not.9 


1  Amen,  of  Lit.  ii.  69. 
ZEist.ofKP.ii.  356. 

8  "  In  hevyn  blyse  ye  xalle  wyn  to  be 

Amonge  the  blyssyd  company  omnium  aupernorum 
Ther  as  is  alle  merth  joye  and  glee 
Inter  agmina  cmgelorum 

In  blyse  to  abyde." 
Coventry  Mysteries,— MS.  Cott.  Vesp.  D.  viii.  fol.  112. 

A  reprint  of  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Workes  having  ap- 
peared in  1736,  Pope  took  occasion,  during  the  next  year,  to 
mention  them  in  the  following  terms, — casting  a  blight  on  our 
poet's  reputation,  from  which  it  has  hardly  yet  recovered ; 

"  Chaucer's  worst  ribaldry  is  learn'd  by  rote, 
And  beastly  Skelton  Heads  of  Houses  quote  " — 

Note—"  Skelton,  Poet  Laureat  to  Hen.  8.  a  Volume  of  whose 
Verses  has  been  lately  reprinted,  consisting  almost  wholly 
of  Ribaldry,  Obscenity,  and  Billingsgate  Language."  The 
First  Epistk  of  the  Second  Book  of  Horace  imitated,  1737.  But 
Pope  was  unjust  to  Skelton;  for,  though  expressions  of  de- 
cided grossness  occur  in  his  writings,  they  are  comparatively 


SKELTON   AKD    HIS    WRITINGS.  xv 

few;  and  during  his  own  time,  so  far  were  such  expressions 
from  being  regarded  as  offensive  to  decency,  that  in  all 
probability  his  royal  pupil  would  not  have  scrupled  to  em 
ploy  them  in  the  presence  of  Anne  Bulleyn  and  her  maids  of 
honour. 


ADDITIONAL  NOTES. 

P.  xxvii.  The  following  verses  are  transcribed  from  a 
MS.  (in  the  collection  of  the  late  Mr.  B.  H.  Bright,)  consist- 
ing  of  Hymni,  &c.,by  Picus  Mirandula:  — 

"  Pici  Mirandulce  Carmen  Extemporale. 

Quid  tibi  facundum  nostra  in  praeconia  fontem 

Solvere  collibuit, 

JEterna  vates,  Skelton,  dignissime  lauro, 

Castalidumque  decus? 

Nos  neque  Pieridum  celebramus  antra  sororum, 

Fonte  nee  Aonio 

Ebibimus  vatum  ditantes  ora  liquores. 

At  tibi  Apollo  chelym  [sic] 

Auratam  dedit,  et  vooalia  plectra  sorores; 

Inque  tuis  labiis 

Dulcior  Hyblseo  residet  suadela  liquore: 

Se  tibi  Calliope 

Infudit  totam :  tu  carmine  vincis  olorem ; 

Cedit  et  ipse  tibi 

Ultro  porrecta  cithara  Rhodopeius  Orpheus : 

Tu  modulante  lyra 

Et  mulcere  feras  et  duras  ducere  quercus, 

Tu  potes  et  rapidos 

Flexanimis  fidibus  fluviorum  sistere  cursus; 

Flectere  saxa  potes. 

Graecia  Mseonio  quantum  debebat  Homero, 

Mantua  Virgilio, 

Tantum  Skeltoni  jam  se  debere  fatetur 

Terra  Britanna  suo : 

Primus  in  hanc  Latio  dednxit  ab  orbe  Camenas ; 

Primus  hie  edocuit 


SOME    ACCOUNT    OF 

Exculte  pureque  loqui:  te  principe,  Skelton, 
Anglia  nil  metuat 

Vel  cum  Romanis  versa  certare  poetis. 
Vive  valeque  diu!" 

P.  xlv.  To  my  notices  of  Garnesche  add  the  following, 
(collected  by  Mr.  D.  E.  Davy)  from  Gent.  Mag.  for  Sept. 
1844,  p.  229:  — 

"  Sir  Christopher  Garncys,  knt.,  -whom  I  suppose  to  be  the 
person  who  was  the  object  of  Skelton's  satire,  was  the  second 
son  of  Edmund  Garneys,  esq.  of  Beccles,  who  was  the  second 
son  of  Peter  Garneys,  esq.  of  Beccles,  whose  eldest  son, 
Thomas,  was  of  Kenton.  He, '  Sir  Christopher,'  was  janitor 
of  Caleys,  and  often  employed  in  the  wars  temp.  H.  viii .  .  . 

In  a  window  of  the  chapel  in  the  north  aisle  of  St.  Peter's 
Mancroft  Church,  Norfolk,  was.  the  following  inscription :  ' .  .  . 
anda  .  a  .  .  Dei,  pro  anihiabus  Thome  Elys  tercia  vice  hujus 
civitatis  Norwici  Majoris  et  Margarete  consortis  sue.  —  Oran- 
dumqne  est  pro  animabus  Edmundi  Garnysh  armigeri,  et 
Matilde  ejus  consortis,  filie  predictorum  Thome  Elis  et  Mar- 
garete, ac  pro  longevo  statu  Christopheri  Garnysh  militis, 
dicti  serenissimi  Principis  ville  sue  Calisie  Jauitoris.'-  See 
Blomf.  Norf.  vol.  iv.  p.  199.  [vol.  ii.  628.  ed.  fol.J 

'  A  description  of  the  Standards  borne  in  the  field  by  Peers 
and  Knights  in  the  reign  of  Hen.  Eighth,  from  a  MS.  in  the 
College  of  Arms  marked  I.  2.  Compiled  between  the  years 
1510  and  1525.'—  Syr  Christoffer  Garnys.  '  A  on  a  wreath, 
Argent  &  Gules,  an  arm  erased  below  the  elbow,  and  erect 
proper,  holding  a  falchion  Argent,  pomel  and  hilt  Or,  the 
blade  imbrued  in  3  places  Gules.  (Imperfect.) — Anns. 
Argent  a  chevron  Azure  between  3  escallops  Sable.'  Ex- 
cerpta  Historica,  p.  317. 

'  Standards,  temp.  H.  viii.  Harl.  MS.  4632.  Syr  Xr'ofer 
Garneyshe.  Blue.  The  device,  on  a  wreath  Argent  and 
Gules,  an  arm  erased,  grasping  a  scymitar,  Proper.  —  Motto, 
"  Oublere  ne  dois."  '  Collect.  Topog.  vol.  iii.  p.  64. 

'  The  names  of  the  Inglishmen  which  were  sent  in  Am- 
bassade  to  the  French  King,  before  the  Qwenes  Landing,  and 
oder  Gentilmen  in  their  Compaigne.' — « Sir  Christopher  Gar- 
neys' (inter  al.).—  Leland's  Collect,  vol.  ii.  p.  704. 


SKELTOX    AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  xx 

In  the  Athenaeum  for  July  18,  1840,  p.  572.  there  is  a  long 
'letter,  dated  'at  Morpeth,  the  xxviij  day  of  Decembre,'  and 
signed  '  C.  Garneys,1  whom  the  editor  supposes  to  have  been 
one  of  the  medical  attendants  sent  by  the  King,  upon  the 
illness  of  Queen  Margaret:  it  was  more  probably  [certainly, 
see  p.  xliii.]  Sir  Christ.  Garneys,  knt. 

Sir  Christopher  was  knighted  at  Touraine,  25  Dec.,  5  H. 

viii.  1513,  and  married  Jane,  daughter  of She 

died  27th  March,  1552.  Her  will  was  dated  27th  Aug.  1550, 
and  proved  12th  May,  1552;  she  was  buried  at  Greenwich. 
Her  husband  was  dead  when  she  made  her  will.  She  names 
her  son,  Arthur  Dymoke,  esq.  Bequeathes  most  of  her  per- 
sonal estate  for  charitable  purposes." 


APPENDIX    I. 


MERIE  TALES  OF  SKELTON 

(  see  Memoir,  p.  xl.  ) ; 
AND  NOTICES  OF  SKELTON  FROM  VARIOUS  SOURCES. 


MERIE  TALES 

Newly  Imprinted 
&  made  by  Ma- 
ster Skelton 

Poet 
Laureat. 


T  Imprinted  at  London 

in  Fleetstreat  beneath  the 

Conduit  at  the  signe  of  S. 

John  Euangelist, 

by  Thomas 

ColwelL 

[IS-"-.  n.  d.] 


Here  begynneth  certayne 

merye  tales  of  Skelton, 

Poet  Lauriat. 


TT  How  Skelten  came  late  home  to  Oxford  from  Abington.    Tale  i. 

SKELTON  was  an  Englysheman  borne  as  Skogyn  was,  and 
hee  was  educated  &  broughte  vp  in  Oxfoorde :  and  there  was 
he  made  a  poete  lauriat.  And  on  a  tyme  he  had  ben  at  Ab- 
bington  to  make  mery,  wher  that  he  had  eate  salte  meutes, 
and  hee  did  com  late  home  to  Oxforde,  and  he  did  lye  in  an 
ine  named  y«  Tabere  whyche  is  now  the  Angell,  and  hee  dyd 
drynke,  &  went  to  bed.  About  midnight  he  was  so  thyrstie 
or  drye  that  hee  was  constrained  to  call  to  the  tapster  for 
drynke,  &  the  tapster  harde  him  not.  Then  hee  cryed  to  hys 
oste  &  hys  ostes,  and  to  the  ostler,  for  drinke ;  and  no  man 
wold  here  hym :  alacke,  sayd  Skelton,  I  shall  peryshe  for 
lacke  of  drynke!  what  reamedye?  At  the  last  he  dyd  crie 
out  and  sayd,  Fyer,  fyer,  fyer !  When  Skelton  hard  euery 
man  bustled  hymselfe  vpward,  &  some  of  them  were  naked, 
&  some  were  halfe  asleepe  and  amased,  and  Skelton  dyd  crye, 
Fier,  fier,  styll,  that  euerye  man  knewe  not  whether  to  re- 
sorte ;  Skelton  did  go  to  bed,  and  the  oste  and  ostis,  &  the 
tapster  with  the  ostler,  dyd  runne  to  Skeltons  chamber  with 
candles  lyghted  in  theyr  handes,  saying,  Where,  where,  where 
is  the  fyer?  Here,  here,  here,  said  Skelton,  &  poynted  hys 
fynger  to  hys  moouth,  saying,  Fetch  me  some  drynke  to 
quenche  the  fyer  and  the  heate  and  the  drinesse  in  my  mouthe : 
&  so  they  dyd.  Wherfore  it  is  good  for  euerye  man  to  helpe 
hys  owne  selfe  in  tyme  of  neede  wythe  some  policie  or  crafte, 
so  bee  it  there  bee  no  deceit  nor  falshed  vsed. 


MERIE    TALES    OF    SKELTON. 


T  How  Skelton  drest  the  Kendallman  in  the  sweat  time.      [Tale  ii.] 

On  a  time  Skelton  rode  from  Oxforde  to  London  with  a 
Kendalman,  and  at  Uxbridge  they  beyted.  The  Kendallman 
layd  hys  cap  vpon  the  borde  in  the  hall,  and  he  went  to  senis 
hys  horse.  Skelton  tooke  ye  Kendalmans  cappe,  and  dyd 
put  betwixte  the  linyng  &  the  vtter  syde  a  dishe  of  butter : 
and  when  the  Kendalman  had  drest  hys  horse,  hee  dyd  come 
in  to  diner,  and  dyd  put  on  hys  cappe  (that  tyme  the  sweat- 
ing sycknes  was  in  allEnglande);  at  the  last,  when  the  butter 
had  take  heate  of  the  Kendallmans  heade,  it  dyd  begynne  to 
run  ouer  hys  face  and  aboute  hys  cheekes.  Skelton  sayde, 
Syr,  you  sweate  soore :  beware  yt  you  haue  not  the  sweat- 
ynge  sycknesse.  The  Kendalman  sayde,  By  the  myssc,  Ise 
wrang;  I  bus  goe  tyll  bed.  Skelton  sayd,  I  am  skild  on 
phisicke,  &  specially  in  the  sweatynge  sycknesse,  that  I  wyll 
warant  any  man.  In  gewd  faith,  saith  the  Kendallman,  do 
see,  and  Ise  bay  for  your  skott  to  London.  Then  sayde  Skel- 
ton, Get  you  a  kerchiefe,  and  I  wyll  bryng  you  abed :  the 
whiche  was  donne.  Skelton  caused  the  capp  to  bee  sod  in 
boat  lee,  &  dryed  it:  in  the  mornyng  Skelton  and  the  Kendal- 
man dyd  ride  merely  to  London. 


IT  Howe  Skelton  tolde  the  man  that  Chryst  was  very  busye  in  the 
woodes  with  them  that  made  fagots.    Tale  iii. 

When  Skelton  did  cum  to  London,  ther  were  manye  men 
at  the  table  at  diner.  Amongest  all  other  there  was  one 
sayde  to  Skelton,  Be  you  of  Oxforde  or  of  Cambridge  a 
scoler?  Skelton  sayd,  I  am  of  Oxford.  Syr,  sayde  the  man, 
1  will  put  you  a  question :  you  do  know  wel  that  after  Christ 
dyd  rise  from  death  to  life,  it  was  xl.  days  after  ere  he  dyd 
ascend  into  heauen,  and  hee  was  but  certaine  times  wyth  hys 
discyples,  and  when  that  he  did  appeare  to  them,  hee  dyd 
neuer  tary  longe  amongest  them,  but  sodainely  vanished  from 
them;  I  wold  fayne  know  (saith  the  man  to  Skelton)  where 
Chryste  was  all  these  xl.  dayes.  Where  hee  was,  saythe 
Skelton,  God  knoweth;  he  was  verye  busye  in  the  woods 


MERIE    TALES    OF    SKELTON.  IxXV 

among  hys  labourers,  that  dyd  make  fagottes  to  burne  here- 
tickes,  &  such  as  thou  art  the  whych  doest  aske  such  diffuse 
questions :  but  nowe  I  wyll  tell  thee  more ;  when  hee  was  not 
with  hys  mother  &  hys  disciples,  hee  was  in  Paradyce,  to 
comforte  the  holye  patriarches  and  prophets  soules,  the  which 
before  he  had  fet  out  of  hell.  And  at  the  daye  of  hys  ascen- 
cion,  hee  tooke  them  all  vp  wyth  him  into  heauen. 


If  Howe  the  Welshman  dyd  desyre  Skelion  to  ayde  hym  in  hys  sute 
to  the  kynge  for  a  patent  to  sell  drynke.    The  iiii.  Tale. 

Skelton,  when  he  was  in  London,  went  to  the  kynges  conrte, 
where  there  did  come  to  hym  a  Welshman,  saying,  Syr,  it  is 
so,  that  manye  dooth  come  vpp  of  my  country  to  the  kyngs 
court,  and  some  doth  get  of  the  kyng  by  patent  a  castell,  and 
some  a  parke,  &  some  a  forest,  and  some  one  fee  and  some 
another,  and  they  dooe  lyue  lyke  honest  men;  and  I  shoulde 
lyue  as  honestly  as  the  best,  if  I  myght  haue  a  patyne  for 
good  dryncke :  wherefore  I  dooe  praye  you  to  write  a  fewe 
woords  for  mee  in  a  lytle  byll  to  geue  the  same  to  the  kynges 
handes,  and  I  wil  geue  you  well  for  your  laboure.  I  am  con- 
tented, sayde  Skelton.  Syt  downe  then,  sayde  the  Welsh- 
man, and  write.  WThat  shall  I  wryte?  sayde  Skelton.  The 
Welshman  sayde,  Wryte  dryncke.  Nowe,  sayd  the  Welsh- 
man, wryte,  more  dryncke.  What  now?  sayde  Skelton. 
Wryte  nowe,  a  great  deale  of  dryncke.  Nowe,  sayd  the 
Welshman,  putte  to  all  thys  dryncke  a  littell  crome  of  breade, 
and  a  great  deale  of  drynke  to  it,  and  reade  once  agayne. 
Skelton  dyd  reade,  Dryncke,  more  dryncke,  &  a  great  deale 
of  dryncke,  and  a  lytle  crome  of  breade,  and  a  great  deale 
of  dryncke  to  it.  Then  the  Welsheman  sayde,  Put  out  the 
litle  crome  of  breade,  and  sett  in,  all  dryncke,  and  no  breade : 
and  if  I  myght  haue  thys  sygned  of  the  kynge,  sayde  the 
Welsheman,  I  care  for  no  more  as  longe  as  I  dooe  lyue.  Well 
then,  sayde  Skelton,  when  you  haue  thys  signed  of  the  kyng, 
then  will  I  labour  for  a  patent  to' haue  bread,  that  you  wyth 
your  drynke,  and  I  with  the  bread,  may  fare  well,  and  seeke 
our  liuinge  with  bagge  and  staffe. 


MERIE    TALES    OF    SKELTON. 


H  Of  Swanborne  the  kiiaue,  that  was  buried  vnder  Si  Peters  wall 
in  Oxford.    [Tale  v.] 

There  was  dwelling  in  Oxford  a  stark  knaue,  whose  name 
was  Swariborn;  and  he  was  such  a  notable  knaue  that,  if  any 
scoler  had  fallen  out  thone  wyth  thother,  the  one  woulde  call 
thother  Swanborn,  the  whyche  they  dyd  take  for  a  worser 
woorde  than  knaue.  Hys  wife  woulde  diuers  tymes  in  the 
weeke  kimbe  his  head  with  a  iii.  footed  stoole:  then  hee 
woulde  runne  out  of  the  doores  wepinge,  and  if  anye  man 
had  asked  hym  what  he  dyd  aile,  other  whyle  he  woulde  saye 
hee  had  the  megrym  in  hys  head,  Or  ells,  there  was  a  great 
smoke  wy thin  the  house :  &  if  the  doores  were  shut,  hys  wyfe 
woulde  beate  him  vnder  the  bed,  or  into  the  bench  hole,  and 
then  he  woulde  looke  out  at  the  cat  hole ;  then  woulde  his 
wife  saye,  Lookest  thou  out,  whoreson?  Yea,  woulde  he 
saye,  thou  shalt  neuer  let  me  of  my  manly  lookes.  Then 
with  her  distaff  she  would  poore  in  at  hym.  I  knewe  him 
when  that  he  was  a  boye  in  Oxforde;  hee  was  a  littell  olde 
fellowe,  and  woulde  lye  as  fast  as  a  horse  woulde  trotte.  At 
last  hee  dyed,  and  was  buried  vnder  the  wall  of  S.  Peters 
church.  Then  Skelton  was  desyred  to  make  an  epitaphe 
vppon  the  churche  wall,  and  dyd  wryte  wyth  a  role,  saying, 
Belsabub  his  soule  saue,  Qui  iacet  hie  hee  a  knaue :  Jam  scio  ! 
mortuus  est,  Et  iacet  Me  hee  a  beast :  Sepultus  2  est  amonge  the 
weedes :  God  forgiue  him  his  misdeedes ! 


TT  Howe  Skelton  was  complayned  on  to  the  bishop  of  Norwich. 
Tale  vi. 

Skelton  dyd  keepe  a  musket  at  Dys,  vpon  the  which  he 
ras  complayned  on  to  the  bishop  of  Norwych.    The  byshoppe 


1  scio]  Old  ed.  "  sci." 

2  Sepultus]  Old  ed.  "  Sepuitus." — This  epitaph  is  made  up 
from  portions  of  Skelton's  verses  on  John  Clarke  and  Adam 
Uddersal:  see  vol.  i.  188, 192. 


MERIE    TALES    OF    SKELTON.  Ixxvii 

sent  for  Skelton.  Skelton  dyd  take  two  capons,  to  geue  theym 
for  a  presente  to  the  byshop.  And  as  soone  as  hee  had  sa- 
luted the  byshopp,  hee  sayde,  My  lorde,  here  I  haue  brought 
you  a  couple  of  capons.  The  byshop  was  blynde,  and  sayde, 
Who  bee  you?  1  am  Skelton,  sayd  Skelton.  The  byshop 
sayd,  A  hoare  head !  I  will  none  of  thy  capons :  thou  keep- 
est  vnhappye  rule  in  thy  house,  for  the  whyche  thou  shalt  be 
punished.  What,  sayde  Skelton,  is  the  winde  at  that  doore? 
and  sayd,  God  be  with  you,  my  lorde !  and  Skelton  with  his 
capons  went  hys  way.  The  byshop  sent  after  Skelton  to 
come  agayne.  Skelton  sayde,  What,  shal  I  come  *  agayne  to 
speake  wythe  a  madde  man  ?  At  last  hee  retouraed  to  the 
byshop,  whyche  sayde  to  hym,  I  would,  sayd  the  byshop, 
that  you  shoulde  not  lyue  suche  a  sclaunderouse  lyfe,  that  all 
your  parisshe  shoulde  not  wonder  &  complaine  on  you  as 
they  dooe :  I  pray  you  amende,  and  hereafter  lyue  honestlye, 
that  I  heare  no  more  suche  woordes  of  you ;  and  if  you  wyll 
tarye  dynner,  you  shall  be  welcome ;  and  I  thanke  you,  sayde 
the  byshoppe,  for  your  capons.  Skelton  sayde,  My  lord,  my 
capons  hane  proper  names ;  the  one  is  named  Alpha,  the  other 
is  named  Omega:  my  lorde,  sayd  Skelton,  this  capon  is  named 
Alpha,  thys  is  the  fyrst  capon  that  I  dyd  euer  geue  to  you ; 
and  this  capon  is  named  Omega,  and  this  is  the  last  capon 
that  euer  I  wil  giue  you :  &  so  fare  you  well,  sayd  Skelton. 


II  Howe  Skelton,  when  hee  came  from  the  bishop,  made  a  sermon. 
Tale  vii. 

Skelton  the  nexte  Sondaye  after  wente  into  the  pulpet  to 
prech,  and  sayde,  Vos  estis,  vos  estis,  that  is  to  save,  You  be, 
you  be.  And  what  be  you?  sayd  Skelton:  I  save,  that  you 
bee  a  sorte  of  knaiies,  yea,  and  a  man  might  save  worse  then 
knaues ;  and  why,  I  shall  shew  you.  You  haue  complayned 
of  mee  to  the  bysop  that  I  doo  keepe  a  fayre  wench  in  my 
house:  I  dooe  tell  you,  if  you  had  any  fayre  wiues,  it  were 
some  what  to  helpe  me  at  neede ;  I  am  a  man  as  you  be :  you 


l  shal  1  come]  Old  ed.  "  shall  I  /come." 


Ixxviii  MERIE    TALES    OF    SKELTON. 

haue  foule  wyues,  and  I  haue  a  faire  wenche,  of  the  whyche 
I  haue  begotten  a  fayre  boye,  as  I  doe  thinke,  and  as  you  all 
shall  see.  Thou  wyfe,  sayde  Skelton,  that  hast  my  childe,  be 
not  afraid  ;  bring  me  hither  my  childe  to  me  :  the  whyche 
was  doone.  And  he,  shewynge  his  childe  naked  to  all  the 
parishe,  sayde,  How  saye  you,  neibours  all  ?  is  not  this  child 
as  fayre  as  is  the  beste  of  all  yours  ?  It  hathe  nose,  eyes, 
handes,  and  feete,  as  well  as  any  of  your  :  it  is  not  lyke  a 
pygge,  nor  a  calfe,  nor  like  no  foule  nor  no  monstruous  beast. 
If  I  had,  sayde  Skelton,  broughte  forthe  thys  chylde  without 
annes  or  legges,  or  that  it  wer  deformed,  being  a  monstruous 
thyng,  I  woulde  neuer  haue  blamed  you  to  haue  complayned 
to  the  bishop  of  me  ;  but  to  complain  without  a  cause,  I  say, 
as  I  said  before  in  my  antethem,  ws  estis,  you  be,  and  haue 
be,  &  wyll  and  shall  be  knaues,  to  complayne  of  me  wythout 
a  cause  resonable.  For  you  be  presumptuous,  &  dooe  exalte 
yourselues,  and  therefore  you  shall  be  made  low  :  as  I  shall 
shewe  you  a  famyller  example  of  a  parish  priest,  the  whyche 
dyd  make  a  sermon  in  Rome.  And  he  dyd  take  that  for  hys 
antethem,  the  which  of  late  dayes  is  named  a  theme,  and 
sayde,  Qui  se  exaltat  humUiabitur,  et  qui  se  *  humitiat  exaltabitur, 
that  is  to  say,  he  that  doth  exalte  himselfe  or  dothe  extoll 
hymselfe  shalbe  made  meke,  &  he  that  doth  humble  hym- 
selfe  or  is  meke,  shalbe  exalted,  extoulled,  or  eleuated,  or 
sublimated,  or  such  lyke  :  and  that  I  will  shewe  you  by  this 
my  cap.  This  cappe  was  fyrste  my  hoode,  when  that  I  was 
studente  in  Jucalico,  &  then  it  was  so  proude  that  it  woulde 
not  bee  contented,  but  it  woulde  slippe  and  fall  from  my 
shoulders.  I  perceyuynge  thys  that  he  was  proude,  what 
then  dyd  IV  shortly  to  conclude,  I  dyd  make  of  hym  a  payre 
of  breches  to  my  hose,  to  brynge  hym  lowe.  And  when  that 
I  dyd  see,  knowe,  or  perceyue  that  he  was  in  that  case,  and 
allmoste  worne  cleane  oute,  what  dyd  I  then  to  extoll  hym 
vppe  agayne  V  you  all  may  see  that  this  my  cap  was  made  of 
it  that  was  my  breches.  Therefore,  sayde  Skelton,  vos  esiit, 


i  Qui  se  exaltat  humitiabitur,  et  yui  se\  Old  ed.  "  Que  se  ex- 
altat humilabitui,  et  quese." 


MERIE    TALES    OF    SKELTON. 

therfore  you  bee,  as  I  dyd  saye  before :  if  that  you  exalte 
yourselfe,  and  cannot  be  contented  that  I  haue  my  wenche 
still,  some  of  you  shall  weare  homes ;  and  therfore  vos  estis : 
and  so  farewell.  It  is  merye  in  the  hall,  when  beardes 


H  How  the  fryer  asked  leaue  of  Skelton  lo  preach  at  Dys,  which 
Skelton  wold  not  grant.    Tale  viii. 

There  was  a  fryer  y«  whych  dydde  come  to  Skelton  to  haue 
licence  to  preach  at  Dys.  What  woulde  you  preache  there  ? 
sayde  Skelton :  dooe  not  you  thynke  that  I  am  sufficiente  to 
preache  there  in  myne  owne  cure  ?  Syr,  sayde  the  freere,  I 
am  the  limyter  of  Norwych,  and  once  a  yeare  one  of  our 
place  dothe  vse  to  preache  wyth  you,  to  take  the  deuocion  of 
the  people  j  and  if  I  may  haue  yoor  good  wil,  so  bee  it,  or  els 
I  will  come  and  preach  against  your  will,  by  the  authentic 
of  the  byshope  of  Rome,  for  I  haue  hys  bulles  to  preache  in 
euerye  place,  and  therfore  I  wyll  be  there  on  Sondaye  nexte 
cummyng.  Come  not  there,  freere,  I  dooe  counsell  thee,  sayd 
Skelton.  The  Sundaye  nexte  followynge  Skelton  layde  watch 
for  the  comynge  of  the  frere :  and  as  sone  as  Skelton  had 
knowledge  of  the  freere,  he  went  into  the  pulpet  to  preache. 
At  last  the  freere  dyd  come  into  the  churche  with  the  bish- 
oppe  of^  Eomes  bulles  in  hys  hande.  Skelton  then  sayd  to 
all  hys  parishe,  See,  see,  see,  and  poynted  to  thee  fryere.  All 
the  parish  gased  on  the  frere.  Then  sayde  Skelton,  Maisters, 
here  is  as  wonderfull  a  thynge  as  euer  was  scene :  you  all 
dooe  knowe  that  it  is  a  thynge  daylye  seene,  a  bulle  dothe 
begette  a  calfe;  but  here,  contrarye  to  all  nature,  a  calfe 
bathe  gotten  a  bulle ;  for  thys  fryere,  beeynge  a  calfe,  hath 
gotten  a  bulle  of  the  byshoppe  of  Rome.  The  fryere,  beynge 
ashamed,  woulde  neuer  after  that  time  presume  to  preach 
at  Dys. 


U  How  Skelton  handled  the  fryer  that  woulde  ne*des  lye  with  him  In 
his  inne.     Tale  ix. 

As  Skelton  ryd  into  y6  countre,  there  was  a  frere  that  hap- 


1XXX  MERIE    TALES    OF    SKELTON. 

ened  in  at  an  alehouse  wheras  Skelton  was  lodged,  and  there 
the  frere  dyd  desire  to  haue  lodgyng.  The  alewife  sayd,  Syr, 
I  haue  but  one  bed  whereas  master  Skelton  doth  lye.  Syr, 
sayd  the  frere,  I  pray  you  that  I  maye  lye  with  you.  Skel- 
ton said,  Master  freere,  I  doo  vse  to  haue  no  man  to  lye  with 
me.  Syr,  sayd  the  frere,  I  haue  lyne  with  as  good  men  as 
you,  and  for  my  money  I  doo  looke  to  haue  lodgynge  as  well 
as  you.  Well,  sayde  Skelton,  I  dooe  see  than  that  you  wyll 
lye  with  me.  Yea,  syr,  sayd  the  frere.  Skelton  did  fill  all 
the  cuppes  in  the  house,  and  whitled  the  frere,  that  at  the 
last,  the  frere  was  in  myne  eames  peason.  Then  sayde  Skel- 
ton, Mayster  freere,  get  you  to  bed,  and  I  wyll  come  to  bed 
within  a  while.  The  frere  went,  and  dyd  lye  vpright,  and 
snorted  lyke  a  sowe.  Skelton  wente  to  the  chaumber,  and 
dyd  see  that  the  freere  dyd  lye  soe ;  sayd  to  the  wyfe,  Geue 
me  a  washyng  betle.  Skelton  then  caste  downe  the  clothes, 
and  the  freere  dyd  lye  starke  naked :  then  Skelton  dyd  shite 
vpon  the  freeres  nauil  and  bellye ;  and  then  he  did  take  the 
washyng  betle,  and  dyd  strike  an  harde  stroke  vppon  the 
nauill  &  bellye  of  the  freere,  and  dyd  put  out  the  candell, 
and  went  out  of  the  chaumber.  The  freere  felt  hys  bellye, 
&  smelt  a  foule  sauour,  had  thought  hee  had  ben  gored,  and 
cried  out  and  sayde,  Helpe,  helpe,  helpe,  I  am  kylled !  They 
of  the  house  with  Skelton  wente  into  the  chaumber,  and 
asked  what  the  freere  dyd  ayle.  The  freere  sayde,  I  am 
kylled,  one  hathe  thrust  me  in  the  bellye.  Fo,  sayde  Skel- 
ton, thou  dronken  soule,  thou  doost  lye ;  thou  hast  beshytten 
thyselfe.  Fo,  sayde  Skelton,  let  vs  goe  oute  of  the  chaum- 
ber, for  the  knaue  doothe  stynke.  The  freere  was  ashamed, 
and  cryed  for  water.  Out  with  the  whoreson,  sayd  Skelton, 
and  wrap  the  sheetes  togyther,  aud  putte  the  freere  in  the 
hogge  stye,  or  in  the  barne.  The  freere  said,  geue  me  some 
water  into  the  barne :  and  there  the  freere  dyd  wasshe  him- 
selfe,  and  dydde  lye  there  all  the  nyght  longe.  The  chaum- 
ber and  the  bedde  was  dressed,  and  the  sheetes  shyfted;  and 
then  Skelton  went  to  bed. 


MERIE    TALES    OF    SKELTON.  Ixxxi 


H  Howe  the  cardynall  desyred  Skeltcm  to  make  ail  epitaphe  vpon  his 
graue.     Tale  x. 

Thomas  Wolsev,  cardynall  and  archbyshop  of  Yorke,  had 
made  a  regall  tombe  to  lye  in  after  hee  was  deade:  and  he 
desyred  Master  Skelton  to  make  for  his  tombe  an  epytaphe, 
whyche  is  a  memoriall  to  shewe  the  lyfe  with  the  actes  of  a 
noble  man.  Skelton  sayde,  If  it  dooe  lyke  your  grace,  I 
canne  not  make  an  epytaphe  vnlesse  that  I  do  se  your  tombe. 
The  cardynall  sayde,  I  dooe  praye  you  to  meete  wyth  mee 
to  morowe  at  the  West  Monesterye,  and  there  shall  you  se 
my  tombe  a  makynge.  The  pointment  kept,  and  Skelton, 
seyng  the  sumptuous  coste,  more  pertaynyng  for  an  empe- 
roure  or  a  maxymyous  kynge,  then  for  suche  a  man  as  he 
was  (although  cardynals  wyll  compare  wyth  kyngs),  Well, 
sayd  Skelton,  if  it  shall  like  your  grace  to  creepe  into  thys 
tombe  whiles  you  be  alyue,  I  can  make  an  epitaphe ;  for  I 
am  sure  that  when  that  you  be  dead  you  shall  neuer  haue  it. 
The  whyche  was  verifyed  of  truthe. 


H  Howe  the  hosller  dyd  byte  Skeltoiis  mare  viider  the  'ale,  for  biting 
him  by  the  arme.    Tale  xi. 

Skelton  vsed  muche  to  ryde  on  a  mare ;  and  on  a  tyme  hee 
happened  into  an  inne,  wher  there  was  a  folish  ostler.  Skel- 
ton said,  Ostler,  hast  thou  any  mares  bread  ?  No,  syr,  sayd 
the  ostler:  I  haue  good  horse  bread,  but  I  haue  no  mares 
bread.  Skeltou  saide,  I  must  haue  mares  bread.  Syr,  sayde 
the  ostler,  there  is  no  mares  bred  to  get  in  all  the  towne. 
Well,  sayd  Skelton,  for  this  once,  serue  my  mare  wyth  horse 
bread.  In  the  meane  time  Skelton  commaunded  the  ostler 
to  sadle  his  mare ;  &  the  hosteler  dyd  gyrde  the  mare  hard, 
and  the  hostler  was  in  hys  ierkyn,  and  hys  shirte  sleues  wer 
aboue  his  elbowes,  and  in  the  girding  of  the  mare  hard  the 
mare  bitte  the  hostler  by  the  arme,  and  bitte  him  sore.  The 
hostler  was  angry,  and  dyd  bite  the  mare  vnder  the  tayle, 
saying,  A  whore,  is  it  good  byting  by  the  bare  arme  'i  Skel- 
tou sayde  then,  Why,  fellowe,  haste  thou  hurt  my  mare? 
VOL.  I.  F 


Ixxxii  MERIE    TALES    OF    SKELTON. 

Yea,  saycte  the  hostler,  ka  me,  ka  thee :  yf  she  dooe  hurte  me, 
1  wyll  displease  her. 


IT  Howe  the  cobler  tolde  maister  Skelton,  it  is  good  sleeping  in  a 
whole  skinne.    Tale  xii. 

In  the  parysshe  of  Dys,  whereas  Skelton  was  person,  there 
dwelled  a  cobler,  beyng  halfe  a  souter,  which  was  a  tall  man 
and  a  greate  slouen,  otherwyse  named  a  slouche.  The  kynges 
maiestye  hauynge  warres  byyonde  the  sea,  Skelton  sayd  to 
thys  aforsayd  doughtie  man,  Neybour,  you  be  a  tall  man,  and 
in  the  kynges  warres  you  must  bere  a  standard.  A  standerd ! 
said  the  cobler,  what  a  thing  is  that?  Skelton  saide,  It  is  a 
great  banner,  such  a  one  as  thou  dooest  vse  to  beare  in  Ro- 
gacyon  weeke ;  and  a  lordes,  or  a  knyghtes,  or  a  gentlemannes 
armes  shall  bee  vpon  it ;  and  the  souldiers  that  be  vnder  the 
aforesayde  persons  fayghtynge  vnder  thy  banner.  Fayght- 
ynge!  sayde  the  cobbeler;  I  can  no  skil  in  faighting.  No, 
said  Skelton,  thou  shalte  not  fayght,  but  holde  vp,  and  ad- 
uaunce  the  banner.  By  my  fay,  sayd  the  cobler,  I  can  no 
skill  in  the  matter.  Well,  sayd  Skelton,  there  is  no  reamedie 
but  thou  shalte  forthe  to  dooe  the  kynges  seruice  in  hys 
warres,  for  in  all  this  countrey  theare  is  not  a  more  likelier 
manne  to  dooe  suche  a l  feate  as  thou  arte.  Syr,  sayde  the 
cobbeler,  I  wyll  geue  you  a  fatte  capon,  that  I  maye  bee  at 
home.  No,  sayde  Skelton,  I  wyll  not  haue  none  of  thy  ca- 
pons ;  for  thou  shalte  doe  the  kyng  seruice  in  his  wars.  Why, 
sayd  the  cobler,  what  shuld  I  doo  V  wyll  you  haue  me  to  goe 
in  the  kynges  warres,  and  to  bee  killed  for  my  labour?  then 
I  shall  be  well  at  ease,  for  I  shall  haue  my  mendes  in  my 
nown  handes.  What,  knaue,  sayd  Skelton,  art  thou  a  cow- 
arde,  hauyng  so  great  bones  ?  No,  sayde  the  cobler,  I  am  not 
afearde :  it  is  good  to  slope  in  a  whole  skinne.  Why,  said 
Skelton,  thou  shalte  bee  harnessed  to  keepe  away  the  strokes 
from  thy  skynne.  By  my  fay,  sayde  the  cobler,  if  I  must 
needes  forthe,  I  will  see  howe  yche  shall  bee  ordered.  Skel- 


i  a]  Old  ed.  "  as." 


MERIE    TALES    OF    SKELTON. 

ton  dyd  harnesse  the  doughtye  squirell,  and  dyd  put  an  hel- 
met on  his  head ;  and  when  the  helmet  was  on  the  coolers 
heade,  the  cobler  sayde,  What  shall  those  hoales  serue  for? 
Skelton  sayd,  Holes  to  looke  out  to  see  thy  enemyes.  Yea, 
sayde  the  cobler,  then  am  I  in  worser  case  then  ener  I  was ; 
for  then  one  may  come  and  thrust  a  nayle  into  one  of  the 
holes,  and  prycke  out  myne  eye.  Therfore,  said  the  cobler 
to  Master  Skelton,  I  wyll  not  goe  to  warre :  my  wyfe  shall 
goe  in  my  steade,  for  she  can  fyghte  and  playe  the  deuell 
wyth  her  distaffe,  and  with  stole,  staffe,  cnppe,  or  candle- 
sticke ;  for,  by  my  fay,  I  cham  sicke ;  I  chill  go  home  to  bed ; 
I  thinke  I  shall  dye. 


«;  Hmv  Master  Skelions  miller  deceyued  hym  manye  times  by  play- 
iiige  the  theefe,  and  howe  he  was  pardoned  by  Masier  Skelton, 
after  the  stealinge  awaye  of  a  preest  oute  of  his  bed  at  midnight. 
Tale  xiii. 

When  Maister  Skelton  dyd  dwell  in  the  countrey,  hee  was 
agreede  with  a  miller  to  haue  hys  corne  grounde  tolle  free ; 
and  manye  tymes  when  hys  maydenfs]  shoulde  bake,  they 
wanted  of  their  mele,  and  complained  to  their  mystres  that 
they  could  not  make  their  stint  of  breade.  Mystres  Skelton, 
beeynge  verve  angrye,  tolde  her  husbande  of  it.  Then  Mas- 
ter Skelton  sent  for  his  miller,  and  asked  hym  howe  it  chansed 
that  hee  deceyued  hym  of  his  corne.  I!  saide  John  miller; 
nay,  surely  I  neuer  deceyued  you ;  if  that  you  can  proue  that 
by  mee,  do  with  mee  as  you  lyste.  Surely,  sayd  Skelton,  if 
I  doe  fynde  thee  false  anye  more,  thou  shalt  be  hanged  up  by 
the  necke.  So  Skelton  apoynted  one  of  hys  seruauntes  to 
stand  at  the  mill  whyle  the  corne  was  a  grindyng.  John 
myller,  beyng  a  notable  theefe,  would  feyn  haue  deceued  him 
as  he  had  don  before,  but  beyng  afrayd  of  Skeltons  seruaunte, 
caused  his  wyfe  to  put  one  of  her  chyldren  into  y«  myll  dam, 
and  to  crye,  Help,  help,  my  childe  is  drowned !  With  that, 
John  myller  and  all  went  out  of  the  myll ;  &  Skeltons  ser- 
uaunte, being  dilygent  to  helpe  the  chylde,  thought  not  of  the 
meale,  and  the  while  the  myllers  boye  was  redy  wyth  a  sacke, 
and  stole  awaye  the  corne ;  so  when  they  had  taken  vp  the 


MJERIE   TALES    OF    SKELTON. 

childe,  and  all  was  safe,  they  came  in  agnyne ;  &  so  the  ser 
uaunt,  hanyng  hys  gryste,  went  home  mistrastyngnothynge; 
and  when  the  maydes  came  to  bake  againe,  as  they  dyd  be- 
fore, so  they  lacked  of  theyr  meale  agayne.  Master  Skelton 
calde  for  hys  man,  and  asked  him  howe  it  chaunced  that  he 
was  deceaned;  &  hee  sayd  that  hee  conlde  not  tell.  For  I  dyd 
your  commanndement.  And  then  Master  Skelton  sent  for 
the  myller,  and  sayde,  Thou  hast  not  vsed  mee  well,  for  I 
want  of  my  mele.  Why,  what  wold  yon  bane  me  ao?  sayde 
the  miller ;  yon  hane  set  your  own  man  to  watche  mee. 
Well,  then,  sayd  Skelton,  if  thon  doest  not  tell  me  wbych 
waye  thon  hast  played  the  theefe  wyth  mee,  thon  shalt  be 
hanged.  I  praye  yon  be  good  master  vnto  me,  &  I  wyll  tell 
yon  the  trntthe:  yonr  semannt  wold  not  from  my  myll,  & 
when  I  sawe  none  other  remedye,  I  cansed  my  wyfe  to  put 
one  of  my  chyldren  into  the  water,  &  to  crie  that  it  was 
drowned ;  and  whiles  wee  were  helpyng  of  the  chylde  out, 
one  of  my  boyes  dyd  steale  your  come.  Yea,  sayde  Skelton, 
if  thou  haue  suche  pretie  fetchis,  you  can  dooe  more  then 
thys ;  and  therfore,  if  thon  dooeste  not  one  thynge  that  I  shaU 
tell  thee,  I  wyll  Mow  the  lawe  on  thee.  What  is  that?  sayd 
the  myller.  If  that  thon  dooest  not  steale  my  cuppe  of  the 
table,  when  I  am  sette  at  meate,  thon  shalt  not  eskape  my 
handes.  O  good  master,  sayd  John  miller.  I  pray  you  for- 
geue  me,  and  let  me  not  dooe  thys;  I  am  not  able  to  dooe  it 
Thou  shalt  nener  be  forgeuen,  sayde  Skelton,  withoute  thon 
dooest  it.  When  the  miller  sawe  no  remedye,  he  went  & 
charged  one  of  hys  boyes,  in  an  euenyng  (when  that  Skelton 
was  at  supper)  to  sette  fyre  in  one  of  hys  hogges  sties,  farre 
from  any  house,  for  doyng  any  harme.  And  it  channced, 
that  one  of  Skeltons  seraanntes  came  oute,  and  spied  the  fire, 
and  hee  cryede,  Helpe,  helpe!  for  all  that  my  master  hath  is 
lyke  to  be  burnt.  Hys  master,  hearing  this,  rose  from  hys 
supper  with  all  the  companie,  and  went  to  quenche  the  fyre; 
and  the  while  John  miller  came  in,  and  stole  away  hys  cuppe, 
&  went  bys  way.  The  fire  being  quickly  slaked",  Skelton 
cam  in  with  his  frendes,  and  reasoned  wyth  hys  frendea 
which  way  they  thought  the  fyre  shonlde  come ;  and  euerye 
man  made  answer  as  thei  thought  good.  And  as  they  wer 


MERIE    TALES    OF    SKELTON.  IxXXV 

resonyng,  Skelton  called  for  a  cup  of  beare;  and  in  no  wise 
his  cuppe  whyche  hee  vsed  to  drynke  in  woulde  not  be  founde. 
Skelton  was  verve  augrie  that  his  cup  was  mysynge,  and 
asked  whiche  waye  it  shoulde  bee  gone;  and  no  manne 
coulde  tell  hym  of  it.  At  last  he  bethought  him  of  the  mil- 
ler, &  sayd,  Surely,  he,  that  theefe,  hath  done  this  deecle,  and 
he  is  worthye  to  be  hanged.  And  hee  sent  for  the  miller:  so 
the  miller  tolde  hym  all  howe  hee  had  done.  Truely,  sayd 
Skelton,  thou  art  a  notable  knaue ;  and  withoute  thou  canste 
do  me  one  other  feate,  thou  shalte  dye.  0  good  master,  sayde 
the  miller,  you  promised  to  pardon  me,  and  wil  you  now 
breake  your  promise  ?  I,  sayd  Skelton ;  wythout  thou  canste 
steale  the  sheetes  of  my  bed,  when  my  wyfe  and  I  am  aslepe, 
thou  shalte  be  hanged,  that  all  suche  knaues  shall  take  en- 
sample  by  thee.  Alas,  sayd  the  miller,  whych  waye  shall  I 
dooe  this  thinge?  it  is  vnpossible  for  me  to  get  theym  while 
you  bee  there.  Well,  sayde  Skelton,  withoute  thou  dooe  it, 
thou  knowest  the  daunger.  The  myller  went  hys  way,  beyng 
very  heauy,  &  studyed  whiche  waye  he  myght  doo  thys 
deede.  He  hauynge  a  little  boy,  whyche  knewe  all  the  cor- 
ners of  Skeltons  house  &  where  hee  lay,  vpon  a  night  when 
they  were  all  busie,  the  boie  crepte  in  vnder  his  bed,  wyth  a 
potte  of  yeste;  and  when  Skelton  &  hys  wyfe  were  fast 
aslepe,  hee  all  to  noynted  the  sheetes  with  yeste,  as  farre  as 
hee  could  reache.  At  last  Skelton  awaked,  &  felt  the  sheetes 
all  wete ;  waked  his  wife,  and  sayd,  What,  hast  thou  beshitten 
the  bed  V  and  she  sayd,  Naye,  it  is  you  that  haue  doone  it,  I 
thynke,  for  I  am  sure  it  is  not  I.  And  so  theare  fel  a  great 
strife  betweene  Skelton  and  his  wyfe,  thinkyng  that  the  bedd 
had  ben  beshitten ;  and  called  for  the  mayde  to  geue  them  a 
cleane  payre  of  shetes.  And  so  they  arose,  &  the  mayde 
tooke  the  foule  sheetes  and  threw  them  vnderueath  the  bed, 
thinkynge  the  nexte  morning  to  haue  fetched  them  away. 
The  next  time  the  maydes  shuld  goe  to  washynge,  they 
looked  all  about,  and  coulde  not  fynde  the  sheetes ;  for  Jacke 
the  myllers  boy  had  stollen  them  awaye.  Then  the  myller 
was  sent  for  agayne,  to  knowe  where  the  sheetes  were  be- 
come :  &  the  myller  tolde  Mayster  Skelton  all  how  he  deuised 
to  steale  the  sheetes.  Howe  say  ye  ?  sayde  Skelton  to  hys 


1XXXV1  MERIE    TALES    OF    SKELTON. 

frendes ;  is  not  this  a  notable  theef  ?  is  he  not  worthy  to  be 
hanged  that  canne  dooe  these  deedes?  0  good  maister, 
quoth  the  miller,  nowe  forgeue  mee  accordynge  to  youre 
promyse ;  for  I  haue  done  all  that  you  haue  commaunded 
mee,  and  I  trust  now  you  wyll  pardon  me.  Naye,  quoth 
Skelton,  thou  shalt  doo  yet  one  other  feate,  and  that  shall  bee 
thys ;  thou  shalte  steale  maister  person  out  of  hys  bed  at  mid- 
night, that  he  shall  not  know  where  he  is  become.  The  mil- 
ler made  great  mone  and  lamented,  saying,  I  can  not  tel  in 
the  world  howe  I  shall  dooe,  for  I  am  neuer  able  to  dooe  this 
feate.  Well,  sayde  Skelton,  thou  shalt  dooe  it,  or  els  thou 
shalt  fynde  no  fauour  at  my  hands ;  and  therfore  go  thy  way. 
The  miller  beynge  sorye,  deuysed  with  himselfe  which  way 
he  might  bryng  this  thing  to  passe.  And  ii.  or  iii.  nyghtes 
after,  gathered  a  number  of  snailes,  &  greed  with  the  sexten 
of  the  churche  to  haue  the  key  of  the  churche  dore,  and  went 
into  the  churche  betwene  the  houres  of  a  xi.  and  xii.  in  the 
night,  &  tooke  the  snayles,  and  lyghted  a  sorte  of  little  waxe 
candles,  &  set  vppon  euerie  snayle  one,  &  the  snayles  crepte 
about  the  churche  wy  th  the  same  candels  vpon  their  backes ; 
and  then  he  went  into  the  vestrey,  and  put  a  cope  vppon  hys 
backe,  &  stoode  very  solemnely  at  the  hye  alter  with  a  booke 
in  hys  hand;  and  afterwarde  tolled  the  bell,  that  the  preest 
lyinge  in  the  churche  yard  might  heare  him.  The  preest, 
hearyng  the  bell  tolle,  starte  oute  of  his  slepe,  and  looked  out 
of  hys  windowe,  and  sawe  suche  a  lyght  in  the  church,  was 
very  muche  amased,  and  thought  surely  that  the  churche  had 
ben  on  fire,  and  wente  for  to  see  what  wonder  it  shoulde  be. 
And  when  he  came  there',  he  founde  the  church  dore  open, 
'and  went  vp  into  the  quier;  and  see  the  miller  standyng  in 
hys  vestementes,  and  a  booke  in  hys  hand,  praying  deuoutly, 
&  all  the  lyghtes  in  the  church,  thought  surely  with  hym- 
selfe  it  was  some  angeil  come  downe  from  heauen,  or  some 
other  great  miracle,  blessed  hymselfe  and  sayde,  In  the  name 
of  the  Father,  the  Sonne,  and  the  Holy  Ghoste,  what  art  thou 
that  standest  here  in  thys  hollye  place?  0,  sayde  the  myl- 
ler,  I  am  saynt  Peter,  whych  kepe  l  the  keyes  of  heauen  gate, 

i  kepe]  Old  ed.  "  kepte." 


MERIE    TALES    OF    SKELTON. 

and  thou  knowes-t  that  none  can  enter  into  heauen  excepte  I 
let  hym  in ;  and  I  am  sent  oute  from  heauen  for  thee.  For 
mee !  quoth  the  preest:  good  saynt  Peter,  worship  maye  thou 
be !  I  am  glad  to  heare  that  newes.  Because  thou  hast 
done  good  deedes,  sayd  the  myller,  and  senied  God,  hee  hath 
sent  for  thee  afore  domes  day  come,  that  thou  shalt  not  knowe 
the  troubles  of  ye  worlde.  0,  blessed  be  God !  sayde  the 
preest ;  I  am  very  well  contented  for  to  goe :  yet  if  it  woulde 
please  God  to  let  me  go  home  and  distrybute  such  things  as 
I  haue  to  the  poore,  I  woulde  bee  verye  glad.  No  sayde  the 
miller;  if  thou  dooest  delite  more  in  thy  goodes  then  in  the 
joyes  of  heauen,  thou  art  not  for  God;  therefore  prepare  thy- 
selfe,  and  goe  into  this  bagge  which  I  have  brought  for  thee. 
The  miller  hauyng  a  great  quarter  sacke,  the  poore  priest 
wente  into  it,  thyukyng  verylye  hee  had  gon  to  heaueii,  yet 
was  very  sory  to  parte  from  hys  goodes ;  asked  saynt  Peter 
how  long  it  wold  be  ere  he  came  there.  The  miller  sayd  he 
should  be  there  quickly ;  and  in  he  got  the  priest,  and  tied  vp 
the  sacke,  and  put  out  the  lightes,  &  layed  euery  thynge  in 
their  place,  and  tooke  the  preest  on  his  backe,  &  locked  the 
church  dores,  &  to  go :  and  when  he  came  to  go  ouer  the 
church  stile,  the  preest  was  verye  heauye,  and  the  miller 
caste  hym  ouer  the  stile  that  the  priest  cryed  oh.  0  good 
seint  Peter,  sayde  the  preeste,  whyther  goe  I  nowe  ?  0,  sayde 
the  myller,  these  bee  the  panges  that  ye  must  abyde  before 
you  come  to  heauen.  0,  quoth  the  preest,  I  would  I  were 
there  once !  Vp  he  got  the  priest  agayn,  &  caried  hym  tyll 
hee  came  to  the  toppe  of  an  hye  hyll,  a  litle  from  hys  house, 
and  caste  hym  downe  the  hyll,  that  hys  head  had  many 
shrewde  rappes,  that  hys  necke  was  almost  burst.  0  good 
saynt  Peter,  said  the  priest,  where  am  I  nowe?  You  are 
almost  nowe  at  heauen ;  &  caried  hym  with  much  a  doo,  tyll 
hee  came  to  hys  owne  house,  and  then  the  miller  threwe  him 
ouer  the  thresholde.  0  good  saynte  Peter,  sayde  the  preeste, 
where  am  I  nowe  V  thys  is  the  soreste  pange  that  euer  I  bydde. 
0,  sayd  the  *  myller,  geue  God  thankes  that  thou  haste  had 


Old  ed.  "that.' 


Ixxxviii        MERIE    TALES    OF    SKELTON. 

pacience  to  abide  all  thys  payne,  for  nowe  thou  arte  goyng 
vppe-  into  heauen ;  and  tyed  a  rope  aboute  the  sacke,  and 
drewehym  vppe  to  the  toppe  of  the  chymnye,  and  there  let  him 
hange.  0  good  S.  Peter,  tell  me  nowe  where  I  am,saydethe 
preest.  Marye,  sayd  he,  thou  art  now  in  the  tope  of  John 
millers  chimney.  A  vengeaunce  on  thee,  knaue !  sayde  the 
preeste :  hast  thou  made  me  beleue  al  this  while  that  I  was 
goyng  vp  into  heauen  ?  well,  nowe  I  am  here,  &  ever  I  come 
downe  again,  I  wil  make  thee  to  repent  it.  But  John  myller 
was  gladd  that  he  had  brought  hym  there.  And  in  the  morn- 
yng  the  sexten  rang  all  in  to  seruise ;  &  when  the  people  were 
come  to  churche,  the  preest  was  lackynge.  The  parish  asked 
the  sexten  wher  the  preest  was ;  and  the  sexten  sayd,  I  can 
not  tell :  then  the  parrishe  sent  to  master  Skelton,  and  tolde 
howe  their  prieste  was  lacking  to  saye  them  seraice.  Mays- 
ter  Skelton  meruayled  at  that,  and  bethought  hym  of  the 
crafty  dooyng  of  the  miller,  sent  for  John  myller;  and  when 
the  miller  was  come,  Skelton  sayd  to  the  miller,  Canst  thou 
tell  wher  the  parish  preest  is  ?  The  myller  vp  and  told  him 
all  togither  how  he  had  doone.  Maister  Skelton,  considering 
the  matter,  sayde  to  the  miller,  Why,  thou  vnreuerent  knaue, 
hast  thou  hanled  the  poore  preest  on  this  fashion,  and  putte 
on  the  holy  ornaments  vpon  a  knaues  backe?  thou  shalte  be 
hanged,  &  it  coste  me  all  the  good  I  haue.  John  miller  fell 
vppon  his  knees,  and  desyred  maister  Skelton  to  pardon  hym ; 
For  I  dyd  nothynge,  sayd  the  miller,  but  that  you  sayd  you 
woulde  forgeue  me.  Nay,  not  so,  sayd  Skelton ;  but  if  thou 
canst  steale  my  gelding  out  of  my  stable,  my  two  men  watch- 
ing him,  I  will  pardon  thee ;  and  if  they  take  thee,  they  shall 
strike  of  thy  heade;  for  Skelton  thought  it  better  that  such 
a  false  knaue  shoulde  lose  hys  head  then  to  liue.  Then  John 
miller  was  very  sad,  &  bethought  him  how  to  bring  it  to 
passe.  Then  he  remembred  that  ther  was  a  man  left  hang- 
yng  vppon  the  galowes  the  day  before,  went  preuely  in  the 
nyglit  and  tooke  him  downe,  and  cut  of  his  head,  and  put  it 
vpon  a  pole,  &  brake  a  hole  into  the  stable,  and  put  in  a  can- 
dle lighted,  thrustyng  in  the  head  a  lytle  &  a  ly tie.  The  men 
watching  the  stable,  seynge  that,  got  them  selues  neare  to  the 
hole  (thinkiuge  that  it  was  his  head),  &  one  of  them  wyth 


MERIE    TALES    OF    SKELTON. 

hys  sworde  cutte  it  of.  Then  they  for  gladnesse  presented  it 
vnto  theyr  master,  leauynge  the  stable  doore  open:  then  John 
miller  went  in,  and  stole  away  the  gelding.  Master  Skelton, 
lookyng  vppon  the  head,  sawe  it  was  the  theues  head  that 
was  left  hangyng  vpon  the  galowes,  sayd,  Alas,  how  ofte  hath 
this  false  knaue  deceiued  vs !  Go  quickly  to  the  stable  agayne, 
for  I  thinke  my  geldyng  is  gone.  Hys  men,  goyng  backe 
agayn,  found  it  euen  so.  Then  they  came  agayn,  and  told 
their  maister  hys  horse  was  gone.  Ah,  I  thought  so,  you 
doltish  knaues!  said  Skelton;  but  if  I  had  sent  wise  men 
about  it,  it  had  not  ben  so.  Then  Skelton  sent  for  the  miller, 
and  asked  hym  if  h'ee  coulde  tell  where  hys  horse  was.  Safe 
ynough,  maister,  sayde  the  miller:  for  hee  tolde  Skelton  all 
the  matter  how  hee  had  done.  Well,  sayd  Skelton,  consyd- 
eryng  hys  tale,  sayd,  that  he  was  worthie  to  bee  hanged,  For 
thou  doost  excell  all  the  theeues  that  euer  I  knew  or  heard 
of;  but  for  my  promise  sake  I  forgeue  thee,  vpon  condition 
thou  wilte  become  an  honest  man,  &  leaue  all  thy  crafte  & 
false  dealyng.  And  thus  John  miller  skaped  vnpunished. 


IT  How  Skelton  was  in  prison  at  the  commaundement  of  the  cardi- 
nall.     [Tale  xiv.] 

On  a  tvme  Skelton  did  meete  with  certain  frendes  of  hys 
at  Charyng  crosse,  after  that  hee  was  in  prison  at  my  lord 
cardynals  commaundement :  &  his  frende  sayd,  I  am  glad 
you  bee  abrode  amonge  your  frendes,  for  you  haue  ben  long 
pent  in.  Skelton  sayd,  By  the  masse,  I  am  glad  I  am  out 
indeede,  for  I  haue  ben  pent  in,  like  a  roche  or  fissh,  at  West- 
minster in  prison.  The  cardinal,  hearing  of  those  words, 
sent  for  him  agayne.  Skelton  kneling  of  hys  knees  before 
hym,  after  long  communication  to  Skelton  had,  Skelton  de- 
syred  the  cardinall  to  graunte  hym *  a  boun.  Thou  shalt 
haue  none,  sayd  the  cardynall.  Thassistence  desirid  that  he 
might  haue  it  graunted,  for  they  thought  it  should  be  some 
merye  pastime  that  he  wyll  shewe  your  grace.  Say  on, 


1  hym]  Old  ed.  "  gym.' 


XC  MERIE    TALES    OP    SKELTON. 

thou  hore  head,  sayd  the  cardynall  to  Skelton.  I  pray  your 
grace  to  let  me  lye  doune  and  wallow,  for  I  can  kneele  no 
longer. 

IT  Howe  the  vinteue.-s  wife  put  water  into  Skeltons  wine.     Tale  xv. 

Skelton  did  loue  wel  a  cup  of  good  wyne.  And  on  a  daye 
he  dyd  make  merye  iu  a  tauerne  in  London :  and  the  morow 
after  hee  sent  to  the  same  place  agaiue  for  a  quart  of  ye  same 
wine  he  drunke  of  before ;  the  whiche  was  clene  channged  & 
brued  again.  Skelton  perceiuing  this,  he  went  to  the  tauerne, 
&  dyd  sytte  down  in  a  chaire,  &  dyd  sygh  very  sore,  and 
made  great  lamentacion.  The  wife  of  the  house,  perceiuinge 
this,  said  to  master  Skelton,  Howe  is  it  with  you,  master 
Skelton  ?  He  answered  and  said,  I  dyd  neuer  so  euill ;  and 
then  he  dyd  reache  another  greate  syghe,  sayinge,  I  am  afraide 
that  I  shal  neuer  be  saued,  nor  cum  to  heauen.  Why,  said 
the  wife,  shuld  you  dispaire  so  much  in  Goddes  mercy?  Nay, 
said  he,  it  is  past  all  remedye.  Then  said  the  wife,  I  dooe 
praye  you  breake  your  mind  vnto  mee.  0,  sayd  Skelton,  I 
would  gladlye  shewe  you  the  cause  of  my  dolour,  if  that  I 
wist  that  you  would  keepe  my  counsel!.  Sir,  said  shee,  I 
haue  ben  made  of  councel  of  greater  matters  then  you  can 
shew  me.  Naye,  nay,  said  Skelton,  my  matter  passeth  all 
other  matters,  for  I  think  I  shal  sinke  to  hell  for  my  great 
offences ;  for  I  sent  thys  daye  to  you  for  wyne  to  say  masse 
withall ;  and  wee  haue  a  stronge  lawe  that  euery  priest  is 
bounde  to  put  into  hys  chalice,  when  hee  doth  singe  or  saye 
masse,  some  wyne  and  water;  the  which  dothe  signifye  the 
water  &  bloude  that  dyd  runne  oute  of  Chrystes  syde,  when 
Longeous  the  blynde  knyght  dyd  thrust  a  speare  to  Christes 
harte ;  &  thys  daye  I  dyd  put  no  water  into  my  wyne,  when 
that  I  did  put  wine  into  my  chalys.  Then  sayd  the  vintiners 
wife,  Be  mery,  maister  Skelton,  and  keepe  my  counsell,  for, 
by  my  faythe,  I  dyd  put  into  the  vessell  of  wyne  that  I  did 
send  you  of  to  day  x.  gallandes  of  water;  and  therfore  take 
no  thought,  master  Skelton,  for  I  warraunt  you.  Then  said 
Skelton,  Dame,  I  dooe  beshrewe  thee  for  thy  laboure,  for  I 
thought  so  muche  before ;  for  throughe  such  vses  &  brewyng 


MKRIE    TALES    OF    SKKLTON.  xci 

of  wyne  maye  men  be  deceyued,  and  be  hurte  by  drynkinge 
of  suche  euell  wyne ;  for  all  wines  must  be  strong,  and  fayre, 
and  well  coloured ;  it  must  haue  a  redolent  sauoure ;  it  must 
be  colde,  and  sprinkclynge  in  the  peece  or  in  1 


Thus  eucleth  the  merie  Tales  of  Muister  Skellon,  very  pteasaunt 
for  the  recreacion  of  minde. 


NOTICES    OF    SKELTON 


FROM    VARIOUS    SOURCES. 


From  the  imperfect  copy  of  A   G  Mery  Talys,  small  fol., 
printed  by  John  Rastell.    (See  Singer's  reprint,  p.  65.) 

"  Of  mayster  Skelton  that  broughte  the  bysshop  of  JVorwiche  ii 
lesaumys.    xl. 

IT  fortuned  ther  was  a  great  varyance  bitwen  the  bysshop  of 
Norwych  and  one  mayster  Skelton  a  poyet  lauryat;  in  so 
much  that  the  bysshop  commaundyd  hym  that  he  shuld  not 
come  in  his  gatys.  Thys  mayster  Skelton  dyd  absent  hym- 
selfe  for  a  long  seson.  But  at  the  laste  he  thought  to  do  hys 
dewty  to  hym,  and  studyed  weys  how  he  myght  obtayne  the 
bysshopys  fauour,  and  determynyd  hemself  that  he  wold 
come  to  hym  wyth  some  present,  and  humble  hymself  to  the 
byshop ;  and  gat  a  cople  of  fesantes,  and  cam  to  the  byssh- 
uppys  place,  and  requyred  the  porter  he  myghte  come  in  to 
speke  wyth  my  lord.  This  porter,  knowyng  his  lordys  plea- 
sure, wold  not  suffer  him  to  come  in  at  the  gatys ;  wherfor 
thys  mayster  Skelton  went  on  the  baksyde  to  seke  some 
other  way  to  come  in  to  the  place.  But  the  place  was  motyd 
that  he  cowlde  se  no  way  to  come  ouer,  except  in  one  place 
where  there  lay  a  long  tree  ouer  the  motte  in  maner  of  a 
brydge,  that  was  fallyn  down  wyth  wynd;  wherfore  thys 
mayster  Skelton  went  along  vpon  the  tree  to  come  ouer,  and 
whan  he  was  almost  ouer,  hys  fote  slyppyd  for  lak  of  sure 
fotyng,  and  fel  into  the  mote  vp  to  myddyll ;  but  at  the  last 


NOTICES    OF    SKELTON.  XCiii 

he  recoueryd  hymself,  and,  a3  well  as  he  coud,  drred  hvm- 
self  ageyne,  and  sodenly  cam  to  the  byshop,  beyng  in  hys 
hall,  than  lately  rysen  from  dyner:  whyche,  whan  he  saw 
Skelton  commyng  sodenly,  sayd  to  hym,  Why,  thow  caytyfe, 
I  warnyd  the  thow  shuldys  neuer  come  in  at  my  gatys,  and 
chargyd  my  porter  to  kepe  the  out.  Forsoth,  my  lorde,  quod 
Skelton,  though  ye  gaue  suche  charge,  and  though  your 
gatys  by  neuer  so  suerly  kept,  yet  yt  ys  no  more  possible  to 
kepe  me  out  of  your  dorys  than  to  kepe  out  crowes  or  pyes; 
for  I  cam  not  in  at  your  gatys,  but  I  cam  ouer  the  mote,  that 
I  haue  ben  almost  drowiiyd  for  my  labour.  And  shewyd  hys 
clothys  how  euyll  he  was  arayed,  whych  causyd  many  that 
stode  therby  to  laughe  apace.  Than  quod  Skelton,  Yf  it  lyke 
your  lordeshyp,  I  haue  brought  you  a  dyshe  to  your  super,  a 
cople  of  fesantes.  Nay,  quod  the  byshop,  I  defy  the  and  thy 
fesauntys  also,  and,  wrech  as  thou  art,  pyke  the  out  of  my 
howse,  for  1  wyll  none  of  thy  gyft  how  [something  lost  here] 
Skelton  than,  consyderynge  that  the  bysshoppe  called  hym 
fole  so  ofte,  sayd  to  one  of  hys  famylyers  thereby,  that 
thoughe  it  were  euyll  to  be  christened  a  fole,  yet  it  was  moche 
worse  to  be  confyrmyd  a  fole  of  suche  a  bysshoppe,  for  the 
name  of  confyrmacyon  muste  nedes  abyde.  Therfore  he 
ymagened  howe  he  myghte  auoyde  that  confyrmacyon,  and 
mused  a  whyle,  and  at  the  laste,  sayde  to  the  bysshope  thus, 
If  your  lordeshype  knewe  the  names  of  these  fesantes,  ye 
wold  [be]  contente  to  take  them.  Why,  caytefe,  quod  the 
bisshoppe  hastly  andangrey,  [what] be  theyr  names'?  Ywys, 
my  lorde,  quod  Skelton,  this  fesante  is  called  Alpha,  which 
is,  in  primys  the  fyrst,  and  this  is  called  0,  that  is,  novissi- 
mus  the  last;  and  for  the  more.playne  vnderstandynge  of  my 
mynde,  if  it  plese  your  lordeshype  to  take  them,  I  promyse 
you,  this  Alpha  is  the  fyrste  that  euer  I  gaue  you,  and  this  0 
is  the  laste  that  euer  I  wyll  gyue  you  whyle  I  lyue.  At 
which  auswere  all  that  were  by  made  great  laughter,  and 
they  all  defsired  the  bisphoppe]  to  be  good  lorde  vnto  him 
for  his  merye  conceytes :  at  which  [earnest  entrety,  as  it] 
wente,  the  bysshope  was  contente  to  take  hym  vnto  his  fauer 
agayne. 
By  thys  tale  ye  may  se  that  mery  conceytes  dothe  [a  man 


XC1V  NOTICES    OF    SKELTON 

more]  good  than  to  frete  hymselfe  with  afnger]  and  melan- 
choly." 


From  Tales,  and  quicke  answeres,  very  mery,  and  pleasant  to 
rede.  4to.  n.d.,  printed  by  Thomas  Berthelet.  (See  Sing- 
er's reprint,  p.  9.) 

"  Of  the  beggers  answere  to  M.  Skelton  the  poete.    xjii. 

A  POUBE  begger,  that  was  foule,  blacke,  and  lothlye  to  be- 
holde,  cam  vpon  a  tyme  vnto  mayster  Skelton  the  poete,  and 
asked  him  his  almes.  To  whom  mayster  Skelton  sayde,  I 
praye  the  gette  the  awaye  fro  me,  for  thou  lokeste  as  though 
thou  earnest  out  of  helle.  The  poure  man,  perceyuing  he 
wolde  gyue  him  no  thynge,  answerd,  For  soth,  syr,  ye  say 
trouth ;  I  came  oute  of  helle.  Why  dyddest  thou  nat  tary 
styl  there  ?  quod  mayster  Skelton.  Mary,  syr,  quod  the  beg- 
ger, there  is  no  roume  for  such  poure  beggers  as  I  am ;  all  is 
kepte  for  suche  gentyl  men  as  ye  be." 


Prefixed  to  Pithy  pleasaunt  and  profitable  workes  of  maister 
Skelton,  Poete  Laureate.  Nowe  collected  and  newly  published. 
Anno  1668.  12mo. 

"  IF  slouth  and  tract  of  time 

(That  wears  eche  thing  away) 
Should  rust  and  canker  worthy  artes, 

Good  works  would  soen  decay. 
If  suche  as  present  are 

Forgoeth  the  people  past, 
Our  selu[e]s  should  soen  in  silence  slepe, 

And  Iocs  renom  at  last. 
No  soyll  nor  land  so  rude 

But  som  odd  men  can  shoe : 


FROM    VARIOUS    SOURCES. 

Than  should  the  learned  pas  unknowne, 

Whoes  pen  &  skill  did  floe  ? 
God  sheeld  our  slouth 1  wear  sutch, 

Or  world  so  simple  nowe, 
That  knowledge  scaept  without  reward, 

Who  sercheth  vertue  throwe, 
And  paints  forth  vyce  aright, 

And  blames  abues  of  men, 
And  shoes  what  lief  desarues  rebuke, 

And  who  the  prayes  of  pen. 
You  see  howe  forrayn  realms 

Aduance  their  poets  all ; 
And  ours  are  drowned  in  the  dust, 

Or  flong  against  the  wall.  ' 

In  Fraunce  did  Marrot  raigne ; 

And  neighbour  thear  vnto 
Was  Petrark,  marching  full  with  Dantte, 

Who  erst  did  wonders  do ; 
Among  the  noble  Grekes 

Was  Homere  full  of  skill; 
And  where  that  Ouid  norisht  was 

The  soyll  did  florish  still 
With  letters  hie  of  style ; 

But  Virgill  wan  the  fraes,2 
And  past  them  all  for  deep  engyen, 

And  made  them  all  to  gaes 
Upon  the  bookes  he  made : 

Thus  eche  of  them,  you  see, 
Wan  prayse  and  fame,  and  honor  had, 

Eche  one  in  their  degree. 
I  pray  you,  then,  my  friendes, 

Disdaine  not  for  to  vewe 
The  workes  and  sugred  verses  fine 

Of  our  raer  poetes  newe ; 


i  slmtth]  Old  ed.  "  sloulth." 

2fracs]  i.  e.  phrase. — In  the  Muses  Library,  1737,  p.  138 
this  word  is  altered  to  "  bayes." 


XCVl  NOTICES    OF    SKELTON 

Whoes  barborus  language  rued 

Perhaps  ye  may  mislike ; 
But  blame  them  not  that  ruedly  playes 

If  they  the  ball  do  strike, 
Nor  skorne  not  mother  tunge, 
0  babes  of  Englishe  breed ! 
I  haue  of  other  language  seen, 

And  you  at  full  may  reed 
Fine  verses  trimly  wrought, 

And  coutcht  in  comly  sort; 
But  neuer  I  nor  you,  I  troe, 

In  sentence  plaine  and  short 
Did  yet  beholde  with  eye, 
*  In  any  forraine  tonge, 
A  higher  verse,  a  staetlyfer]  style, 

That  may  be  read  or  song, 
Than  is  this  daye  indeede 

Our  Englishe  verse  and  ryme, 
The  grace  wherof  doth  touch  y«  gods, 

And  reatch  the  cloudes  somtime. 
Thorow  earth  and  waters  deepe 
The  pen  by  skill  doth  passe, 
And  featly  nyps  the  worldes  abuse, 

And  shoes  vs  in  a  glasse 
The  vertu  and  the  vice 

Of  euery  wyght  alyue : 
The  hony  combe  that  bee  doth  make 

Is  not  so  sweete  in  hyue 
As  are  the  golden  leues 

That  drops  from  poets  head, 
Which  doth  surmount  our  common  talke 

As  farre  as  dros  doth  lead : 
The  flowre  is  sifted  cleane, 

The  bran  is  cast  aside, 
And  so  good  come  is  knowen  from  chaffe, 

And  each  fine  graine  is  spide. 
Peers  Plowman  was  full  plaine, 
And  Chausers  spreet  was  great; 


FROM   VARIOUS    SOURCES. 

Earle  Surry  had  a  goodly  vayne ; 
Lord  Vaus  the  marke  did  beat, 
And  Phaer  did  hit  the  pricke 
In  thinges  he  did  translate, 
And  Edwards  had  a  special  gift; 

And  diuers  men  of  late 
Hath  helpt  our  Englishe  toung, 

That  first  was  baes  and  brute : — 
Ohe,  shall  I  leaue  out  Skeltons  name, 

The  blossome  of 'my  frute, 
The  tree  w heron  indeed 

My  branchis  all  might  groe  ? 
Nay,  Skelton  wore  the  lawrell  wreath, 

And  past  in  schoels,  ye  knoe ; 
A  poet  for  his  arte, 

Whoes  Judgment  suer  was  hie, 
And  had  great  practies  of  the  pen, 

His  works  they  will  not  lie; 
His  terms  to  taunts  did  lean, 
His  talke  was  as  he  wraet, 
Full  quick  of  witte,  right  sharp  of  words, 

And  skilfull  of  the  staet; 
Of  reason  riep  and  good, 

And  to  the  haetfull  mynd, 
That  did  disdain  his  doings  still, 

A  skornar  of  his  kynd ; 
Most  pleasant  euery  way, 

As  poets  ought  to  be, 
And  seldom  out  of  princis  grace, 

And  great  with  eche  degre. 
Thus  haue  you  heard  at  full 
What  Skelton  was  indeed; 
A  further  knowledge  shall  you  haue, 

If  you  his  bookes  do  reed. 
I  haue  of  meer  good  will 

Theas  verses  written  heer, 

To  honour  vertue  as  I  ought, 

And  make  his  fame  apeer, 


VOL.   I. 


NOTICES    OF    SKELTON 

That  whan  the  garland  gay 

Of  lawrel  leaues  but  laet: 
Small  is  my  pain,  great  is  his  prayes, 

That  thus  sutch  honour  gaet. 

Finis  quod  Churchyarde." 


From  Jokannis  ParKhvrsti  Ludicra  sine  Epigrammata  Juven- 
ilia.    1573,  4to. 

"De  Skeltono  vate  &  sacerdote. 

SKELTONUS  grauidam  reddebat  forte  puellam, 

Insigni  forma  quae  peperit  puerum. 
Illico  multorum  fama  hsec  pervenit  ad  aures, 

Esse  patrem  nato  sacrificum  puero. 
Skeltonum  facti  non  poenitet  aut  pudet;  aedes 

Ad  sacras  festo  sed  venit  ipse  die : 
Pulpita  conscendit  facturus  verba  popello; 

Inque  hsec  prorupit  dicta  vir  ille  bonus; 
Quid  vos,  0  scurrae,  capit  admiratio  tanta? 

Non  sunt  eunuchi,  credite,  sacrifici : 
0  stolidi,  vitulum  num  me  genuisse  putatis? 

Non  genui  vitulum,  sed  lepidum  puerum ; 
Sique  meis  verbis  non  creditis,  en  puer,  inquit; 

Atque  e  suggesto  protulit,  ac  abiit." 

p.  103. 


FROM;  VARIOUS  SOURCES. 


From  A  Treatise  Against  Jvdicial  Astrologie.  Dedicated  to  the 
Right  Honorable  Sir  Thomas  Eyerton  Kniyht,  Lord  Keeper 
of  the  Great  Seale,  and  one  of  her  Maiestles  most  honorable 
priuie  GmncelL  Written  by  John  Chamber,  one  of  the  Pre- 
bendaries of  her  Maiesties  free  Cluippell  of  Windsor,  and 
Fellow  of  Eaton  Culieye.  1601.  4to. 

"  NOT  much  vnlike  to  merrie  Skelton,  who  thrust  his  wife  out 
at  the  doore,  and  receiued  her  in  againe  at  the  window.  The 
storie  is  well  known  how  the  bishop  had  charged  him  to 
thrust  his  wife  out  of  the  doore:  but  that  which  was  but  a 
meriment  in  Skelton,"  &c.  p.  99. 


"  So  that  the  leape  yeare,  for  any  thing  1  see,  might  well 
vse  the  defence  of  merie  Skelton,  who  being  a  priest,  and 
hauing  a  child  by  his  wife,  euerie  one  cryed  out,  Oh,  Skelton 
hath  a  child,  fie  on  him,  &c.  Their  mouthes  at  that  time  he 
could  not  stop :  but  on  a  holy  day,  in  a  mery  mood,  he  brought 
the  child  to  church  with  him,  and  in  the  pulpit  stript  it  naked, 
and  held  it  out,  saying,  See  this  child:  is  it  not  a pretie child, 
as  other  children  be,  euen  as  any  of  yours '!  hath  it  not  legs, 
armes,  head,  feet,  limbes,  proportioned  euery  way  as  it  shuld 
be?  If  Skelton  had  begot  a  monster,  as  a  calfe,  or  such  like, 
what  a  life  should  poore  Skelton  haue  had  then '?  So  we  say 
for  the  leape  yeare,  if  it  had  changed  the  nature  of  things, 
as  it  is  charged,  how  should  it  haue  done  then  to  defends 
itselfe?"  p.  113. 


NOTICES    OF    SKELTON 


From  The  Life  of  Lang  Meg  of  Westminster :  containing  the 
mad  merry  prankes  she  played  in  her  life  time,  not  onely  in 
performing  sundry  quarrels  with  diuers  ruffians  about  London : 
But  also  how  valiantly  she  behaued  her  selfe  in  the  warres  of 
BoUoingne.  1635.  4to.  ( Of  this  tract  there  is  said  to  have 
been  a  much  earlier  edition.  I  quote  from  the  reprint  in 
Miscellanea  Antiqua  Anylicana,  1816.) 

"  CHAP.  II. 

Containing  how  he  [the  carrier]  placed  her  in  Westminster,  and 
what  shee  did  at  her  placing. 

AFTER  the  carrier  had  set  vp  his  horse,  and  dispatcht  his 
lading,  hee  remembred  his  oath,  and  therefore  bethought  him 
how  he  might  place  these  three  maides:  with  that  hee  called 
to  minde  that  the  mistresse  at  the  Eagle  in  Westminster  had 
spoken  diuers  times  to  him  for  a  seruant ;  he  with  his  car- 
riage passed  ouer  the  fields  to  her  house,  where  he  found  her 
sitting  and  drinking  with  a  Spanish  knight  called  sir  James 
of  Castile,  doctor  Skelton,  and  Will  Sommers;  told  her  how 
hee  had  brought  vp  to  London  three  Lancashire  lasses,  and 
seeing  she  was  oft  desirous  to  haue  a  maid,  now  she  should 
take  her  choyce  which  of  them  she  would  haue.  Marry, 
quoth  shee,  (being  a  very  merry  and  a  pleasant  woman,)  car- 
rier, thou  commest  in  good  time ;  for  not  onely  I  want  a  maid, 
but  heere  bee  three  gentlemen  that  shall  giue  me  their  opi- 
nions, which  of  them  I  shall  haue.  With  that  the  maids 
were  bidden  come  in,  and  she  intreated  them  to  giue  their 
verdict.  Streight  as  soone  as  they  saw  Long  Meg,  they  began 
to  smile;  and  doctor  Skelton  in  his  mad  merry  veine,  blessing 
himselfe,  began  thus: 

Domine,  Domine,  vnde  hoc  T 
What  is  she  in  the  gray  cassock? 
Me  thinkes  she  is  of  a  large  length, 
Of  a  tall  pitch,  and  a  good  strength, 
With  strong  armes  and  stifle  bones; 
This  is  a  wench  for  the  nones : 


FROM    VARIOUS    SOURCES.  Cl 

Her  lookes  are  bonny  and  blithe, 

She  seemes  neither  lither  iior  lithe, 

But  young  of  age, 

And  of  a  merry  visage, 

Neither  beastly  nor  bowsie, 

Sleepy  nor  drowsie, 

But  faire  fac'd  and  of  a  good  size; 

Therefore,  hostesse,  if  you  be  wise, 

Once  be  ruled  by  me, 

Take  this  wench  to  thee; 

For  this  is  plaine, 

Shee'l  doe  more  worke  than  these  twaine : 

1  tell  thee,  hostesse,  I  doe  not  mocke ; 

Take  her  in  the  gray  cassocke. 

What  is  your  opinion  ?  quoth  the  hostesse  to  sir  James  of 
Castile.  Question  with  her,  quoth  he,  what  she  can  do,  and 
then  He  giue  you  mine  opinion:  and  yet  first,  hostesse,  aske 
Will  Sommers  opinion.  Will  smiled,  and  swore  that  his 
hostesse  should  not  haue  her,  but  king  Harry  should  buy  her. 
Why  so,  Will?  quoth  doctor  Skelton.  Because,  quoth*  Will 
Sommers,  that  she  shall  be  kept  for  breed;  for  if  the  king 
would  marry  her  to  long  Sanders  of  the  court,  they  would 
bring  forth  none  but  souldiers.  Well,  the  hostesse  demanded 
what  her  name  was.  Margaret,  forsooth,  quoth  she.  And 
what  worke  can  you  doe'?  Faith,  little,  mistresse,  quoth  she, 
but  handy  labour,  us  to  wash  and  wring,  to  make  cleane  a 
house,  to  brew,  bake,  or  any  such  drudgery :  for  my  needle, 
to  that  I  haue  beene  little  vsed  to.  Thou  art,  quoth  the  host- 
esse, a  good  lusty  wench,  and  therefore  I  like  thee  the  better: 
I  haue  here  a  great  charge,  for  I  keepe  a  victualling  house, 
and  diuers  times  there  come  in  swaggering  fellowes,  that, 
when  they  haue  eat  and  dranke,  will  not  pay  what  they  call 
for:  yet  if  thou  take  the  charge  of  my  drinke,  I  must  be  an- 
swered out  of  your  wages.  Content,  mistresse,  qnoth  she ; 
for  while  I  serue  you,  if  any  stale  cutter  comes  in,  and 
thinkes  to  pay  the  shot  with  swearing,  hey,  gogs  wounds,  let 
me  alone !  He  not  onely  (if  his  clothes  be  worth  it)  make  him 
pay  ere  hee  passe,  but  lend  him  as  many  bats  as  his  crag  will 


Cii  NOTICES    OP    SKELTON 

carry,  and  then  throw  him  out  of  doores.  At  this  they  all 
smiled.  Nay,  mistresse,  quoth  the  carrier,  'tis  true,  for  my 
poore  pilch  here  is  able  with  a  paire  of  blew  shoulders  to 
sweare  as  much;  and  with  that  he  told  them  how  she  had 
vsed  him  at  her  comming  to  London.  I  cannot  thinke,  quoth 
sir  James  of  Castile,  that  she  is  so  strong.  Try  her,  quoth 
Skelton,  for  I  haue  heard  that  Spaniards  are  of  wonderful! 
strength.  Sir  James  in  a  brauery  would  needs  make  expe- 
rience, and  therefore  askt  the  maide  if  she  durst  change  a 
box  on  the  care  with  him.  I,  sir,  quoth  she,  that  I  dare,  if 
my  mistresse  will  giue  me  leaue.  Yes,  Meg,  quoth  she;  doe 
thy  best.  And  with  that  it  was  a  question  who  should  stand 
first:  Marry,  that  I  will,  sir,  quoth  she:  and  so  stood  to  abide 
sir  James  his  blow;  who,  forcing  himselfe  with  all  his  might, 
gaue  her  such  a  box  that  she  could  scarcely  stand,  yet  shee 
stirred  no  more  than  a  post.  Then  sir  James  he  stood,  and 
the  hostesse  willed  her  not  spare  her  strength.  No,  quoth 
Skelton;  and  if  she  fell  him  downe,  He  giue  her  a  paire  of 
new  hose  and  shoone.  Mistresse,  quoth  Meg  (and  with  that 
she  stroke  vp  her  sleeue,)  here  is  a  foule  fist,  and  it  hath  past 
much  drudgery,  but,  trust  me,  I  thinke  it  will  giue  a  good 
blow:  and  with  that  she  raught  at  him  so  strongly,  that 
downe  fell  sir  James  at  her  feet.  By  my  faith,  quoth  Will 
Sommers,  she  strikes  a  blow  like  an  oxe,  for  she  hath  strooke 
down  an  asse.  At  this  they  all  laught.  Sir  James  was 
ashamed,  and  Meg  was  entertained  into  seruice."  . 

"  CHAP.  IV. 

Containing  the  merry  skirmish  that  was  betweene  her  and  sir  James 
of  Castile,  a  Spanish  knight,  and  what  was  the  end  of  their  com- 
bat. 

There  was  a  great  suter  to  Meg's  mistresse,  called  sir  James 
of  Castile,  to  winne  her  loue:  but  her  affection  was  set  on 
doctor  Skelton ;  so  that  sir  James  could  get  no  grant  of  any 
fauour.  Whereupon  he  swore,  if  hee  knew  who  were  her 
paramour,  hee  would  runne  him  thorow  with  his  rapier.  The 
mistresse  (who  had  a  great  delight  to  bee  pleasant)  made  a 
match  .betweene  her  and  Long  Meg,  that  she  should  goe  drest 


FROM    VARIOUS    SOURCES.  Clll 

in  gentlemans  apparell,  and  with  her  sword  and  buckler  goe 
and  meet  sir  James  in  Saint  Georges  fieldfs];  if  she  beat 
him,  she  should  for  her  labour  haue  a  new  petticote.  Let 
me  alone,  quoth  Meg;  the  deuill  take  me  if  I  lose  a  petticote. 
And  with  that  her  mistris  deliuered  her  a  suit  of  white  sattin, 
that  was  one  of  the  guards  that  lay  at  her  house.  Meg  put 
it  on,  and  tooke  her  whinyard  by  her  side,  and  away  she 
•went  into  Saint  Georges  fields  to  meet  sir  James.  Presently 
after  came  sir  James,  and  found  his  mistris  very  melancholy, 
as  women  haue  faces  that  are  fit  for  all  fancies.  What  aile 
you,  sweetheart?  quoth  he;  tell  me;  hath  any  man  wronged 
you?  if  he  hath,  be  he  the  proudest  champion  in  London,  lie 
haue  him  by  the  eares,  and  teach  him  to  know,  sir  James  of 
Castile  can  chastise  whom  he  list.  Now,  quoth  she,  shall  I 
know  if  you  loue  me:  a  squaring  long  knaue,  in  a  white  sat- 
tin doublet,  hath  this  day  monstrously  misused  me  in  words, 
and  I  haue  no  body  to  reuenge  it;  and  in  a  brauery  went  out 
of  doores,  and  bad  the  proudest  champion  I  had  come  into 
Saint  Georges  fields  and  quit  my  wrong,  if  they  durst:  now 
sir  James,  if  euer  you  loued  mee,  learne  the  knaue  to  know 
how  he  hath  wronged  me,  and  I  will  grant  whatsoeuer  JTOU 
request  at  my  hands.  Marry,  that  I  will,  quoth  he;  and  for 
that  you  may  see  how  Twill  vse  the  knaue,  goe  with  me,  you 
and  master  doctor  Skelton,  and  be  eye-witnesses  of  my  man- 
hood. To  this  they  agreed;  and  all  three  went  into  Saint 
Georges  fields,  where  Long  Meg  was  walking  by  the  wind- 
mils.  Yonder,  quoth  she,  walkes  the  villain  that  abused  me. 
Follow  me,  hostesse,  quoth  sir  James;  lie  goe  to  him.  As 
soone  as  hee  drew  nigh,  Meg  began  to  settle  herselfe,  and  so 
did  sir  James:  but  Meg  past  on  as  though  she  would  haue 
gone  by.  Nay,  sirrah,  stay,  quoth  sir  James;  you  and  I  part 
not  so,  we  must  haue  a  bout  ere  we  passe;  for  I  am  this  gen- 
tlewomans  champion,  and  flatly  for  her  sake  will  haue  you 
by  the  eares.  Meg  replied  not  a  word;  but  only  out  with  her 
sword:  and  to  it  they  went.  At  the  first  bout  Meg  hit  him 
on  the  hand,  and  hurt  him  a  little,  but  endangered  him  diuers 
times,  and  made  him  giue  ground,  following  so  hotly,  that 
shee  strucke  sir  James'  weapon  out  of  his  hand ;  then  when 
she  saw  him  disarm'd,  shee  stept  within  him,  and,  drawing 


Civ  NOTICES    OF    SKELTON 

her  ponyard,  swore  all  the  world  should  not  saue  him.  Oh, 
saue  mee,  sir!  quoth  hee;  I  am  a  knight,  and  'tis  but  for  a 
womans  matter;  spill  not  my  blood.  Wert  thou  twenty 
knights,  quoth  Meg,  and  were  the  king  himselfe  heere,  hee 
should  not  saue  thy  life,  vnlesse  thou  grant  mee  one  thing. 
Whatsoeuer  it  bee,  quoth  sir  James.  Marry,  quoth  shee,  that 
is,  that  this  night  thou  wait  on  my  trencher  at  supper  at  this 
womans  house;  and  when  supper  is  done,  then  confesse  me 
to  be  thy  better  at  weapon  in  any  ground  in  England.  I  will 
do  it,  sir,  quoth  he,  as  I  am  a  true  knight.  With  this  they 
departed,  and  sir  James  went  home  with  his  hostesse  sorrow- 
full  and  ashamed,  swearing  that  his  adversary  was  the  stout- 
est man  in  England.  Well,  supper  was  prouided,  and  sir 
Thomas  Moore  and  diners  other  gentlemen  bidden  thither  by 
Skeltons  means,  to  make  vp  the  jest ;  which  when  sir  James 
saw  inuited,  hee  put  a  good  face  on  the  matter,  and  thought 
to  make  a  slight  matter  of  it,  and  therefore  beforehand  told 
sir  Thomas  Moore  what  had  befallen  him,  how  entring  in  a  . 
quarrell  of  his  hostesse,  hee  fought  with  a  desperate  gentle- 
man of  the  court,  who  had  foiled  him,  and  giuen  him  in 
charge  to  wait  on  his  trencher  that  night.  Sir  Thomas  Moore 
answered  sir  James,  that  it  was  no  dishonour  to  be  foyled  by 
a  gentleman  [of  England?],  sith  Caasar  himselfe  was  beaten 
backe  by  their  valour.  As  thus  they  were  discanting  of  the 
valour  of  Englishmen,  in  came  Meg  marching  in  her  mans 
attire:  euen  as  shee  entered  in  at  the  doore,  This,  sir  Thomas 
Moore,  quoth  sir  James,  is  that  English  gentleman  whose 
prowesse  I  so  highly  commend,  and  to  whom  in  all  valour  I 
account  myselfe  so  inferiour.  And,  sir,  quoth  shee,  pulling 
off  her  hat,  and  her  haire  falling  about  her  eares,  hee  that  so 
hurt  him  to  day  is  none  other  but  Long  Meg  of  Westminster; 
and  so  you  are  all  welcome.  At  this  all  the  company  fell  in  a 
great  laughing,  and  sir  James  was  amazed  that  a  woman 
should  so  wap  him  in  a  whinyard :  well,  hee  as  the  rest  was 
faine  to  laugh  at  the  matter,  and  all  that  supper  time  to 
wait  on  her  trencher,  who  had  leaue  of  her  mistris  that 
shee  might  be  master  of  the  feast;  where  with  a  good 
laughter  they  made  good  cheere,  sir  James  playing  the  proper 
page,  and  Meg  sitting  in  her  maiesty.  Thus  was  sir  James 


FROM    VARIOUS    SOURCES.  CV 

disgraced  for  his  loue,  and  Meg  after  counted  for  a  proper 
woman." 


Scogan  and  Skelton,  1600,  a  play  by  Richard  Hathwaye  and 
William  Ranking,  is  mentioned  in  Henslowe's  MSS. :  see  Ma- 
lone's  Shakespeare  (by  Boswell,)  iii.  324. 

Notices  of  Skelton  may  also  be  found  in : — 

A  Dialogue  bottie  pleasaunl  and  pietifull,  wherein  is  a  godlie 
regiment  against  the  Feuer  Pestilence,  mth  a  consolation  and 
comforte  againste  death.  Newlie  corrected  by  William  Buttein, 
the  authour  thereof.  1573,  8vo.  Of  this  piece  I  have  seen 
only  the  above  ed. ;  but  it  appeared  originally  in  1564.  It 
contains  notices  of  several  poets,  introduced  by  way  of  in- 
terlude or  diversion  in  the  midst  of  a  serious  dialogue;  and 
(at  p.  17)  Skelton  is  described  as  sitting  "in  the  comer  of  a 
Filler,  with  a  frostie  bitten  face,  frownyng,"  and  "  writyng 
many  a  sharpe  Disticons  "  against  Wolsey — 

"  How  the  Cardinall  came  of  nought, 
And  his  Prelacie  solde  and  bought,"  &c. 

(15  verses  chiefly  made  up  from  Skelton's  works). —  The  Re- 
warde  of  Wickednesse,  discoursing  the  sundrye  monstrous  abuses 
of  miked  and  vn godly  Worddings,  £c.  Newly  compiled  by  Rich- 
ard Rubinson,  seruaunt  in  householle  to  the  right  honorable  Earle 
of  Shrewsbury,  &c.  4to,  n.d.  (The  Address  to  the  Reader 
dated  1574,)  sit  sig.  Q  2.— A  Discourse  of  English  Poetrie,  &c., 
By  William  Wtbbe,  Graduate,  1586,  4to,  at  sig.  c  iii. —  The 
Arte  of  English  Poesie,  &c.  (attributed  to  one  Putteuham : 
but  see  D'Israeli's  Amen,  of  Lit.  ii.  278,  sqq.),  1589,  4to,  at 
pp.  48,  50,  69. — Fat-re  Letters,  andcertaine  Sonnets  :  Especially 
touching  Robert  Greene,  &c.  (by  Gabriell  Harvey,)  1592,  4to, 
at  p.  7. — Pierces  Supererogation  or  a  New  Prayse  of  the  Old 
Asse,  &c.  [by]  Gabriell  Haruey,  1593,  4to,  at  p.  75. — Palladia 
Tamia.  Wits  Treasury  Being  the  Second  part  of  Wits  Com- 


CV1  NOTICES    OF    SKULTOX 

monwealth.  By  Francis  Meres,  &c.,  1598,  12mo,  at  p.  279.— 
Vtrgidemiarvm.  The  three  last  Bookes.  Of  byting  Salyres  ( by 
Joseph  Hall,)  1598,  12mo,  at  p.  83.— The  Downfall  of  Robert 
Earle  of  Huntington,  Afterward  called  Robin  Hood  of  merrie 
Shencodde,  &c.  (by  Anthony  Munday,)  1601,  4to.  In  this 
play,  which  is  supposed  to  be  a  rehearsal  previous  to  its  per- 
formance before  He-iry  the  Eighth,  Skelton  acts  the  part  of 
Friar  Tuck.— In  The  Death  of  Robert,  Earle  of  Hcntington,  &c. 
(by  Anthony  Munday  and  Henry  Qhettle,)  1601,  4to,  which 
forms  a  Second  Part  to  the  drama  just  described,  Skelton, 
though  his  name  is  not  mentioned  throughout  it,  is  still  sup- 
posed to  act  the  Friar.  Miscellanea,  written  out  by  "  Johnes 
Mauritius  "  between  1604  and  1605 — MS.  Reg.  12.  B.  v. — 
contains  (at  fol.  14;)  and  attributes  to  Skelton,  a  well-known 
indelicate  jeu  <?  esprit. — Pimlyco,  or  Runne  Red-  Cap.  Tis  a 
mad  world  at  Hogsdon,  1609,  4to.  Besides  a  notice  of  Skelton, 
this  poem  contains  two  long  quotations  from  his  Elynour  Rum- 
myng. —  Cornv-cqnte.  Pasquils  Night- Cap :  Or  Anlidotfor  the 
Head-ache  (by  Samuel  Rowlands,)  1612,  4to,  at  sig.  O  2  and 
sig.  Q  3.  The  second  notice  of  Skelton  in  this  poem  is  as 
follows; 

"  And  such  a  wondrous  troupe  the  Hornpipe  treads, 
One  cannot  passe  another  for  their  heads, 
That  shortly  we  shall  haue  (as  Skelton  iests) 
A  greater  sort  of  Tiorned  men  than  beasts:  " 

but  I  recollect  nothing1  in  his  works  to  which  the  allusion 
can  be  applied. — An  Halfe-pennywortli  of  Hit,  in  a  Penny- 
worth of  Paper.  Or,  The  Hermites  Tale.  The  third  Im- 
pression. 1613,  4to.  At  p.  16  of  this  poem  is  a  tale  said 
to  be  '•  in  Skeltons  rime  " — to  which,  however,  it  bears  no 
resemblance. —  The  Shepheards  Pipe  (by  Browne  and  With- 
ers,) 1614,  12mo,  in  Eglogue  i.,  at  sig.  C  7, — Hypercritica ; 
or  A  Rule  of  Judgment  for  writing,  or  reading  our  History's. 
&o.  By  Edmund  Bolton,  Author  of  Nero  Ccesar  (published 
by  Dr.  Anthony  Hall  together  with  Nicolai  Triveti  Annalium 
Continuatio,  £c.),  1722,  8vo,  at  p.  235.  At  what  period  Bol- 
ton wrote  this  treatise  is  uncertain :  he  probably  completed 
it  about  1618;  see  Haslewood's  Preface  to  Anc.  Crit.  Essays, 


FROM    VARIOUS    SOURCES.  CVU 

&c.  ii.  xvi.— Poems :  By  Michael  Drayton  Esyvire,  n.d.  folio, 
at  p.  283. —  The  Golden  Fleece  Diuided  into  tiiree  Parts,  £c., 
by  Orpheus  Junior  [Sir  William  Vaughan],  1626,  4to,  at  pp. 
83,  88,  93,  of  the  Third  Part.  In  this  piece  "  Scogin  and 
Sktlton"  figure  as  "  the  chiefs  Aduocates  for  the  Dogrel 
Rimers  by  the  procurement  of  Zoilus,  Momus,  and  others  of 
the  Popish  Sect."—  The  Fortunate  Jslts,  and  their  Union. 
Celebrated  in  a  Masque  designed  fur  Hie  Court,  on  the  Twelfth- 
night,  1626,  by  Ben  Jonson.  In  this  masque  are  introduced 
"  Skogan  and  Skelton,  in  like  habits  as  they  lived:  "  see  Jon- 
son's  Works,  viii.  ed.  Gifford:  see  also  his  Tale  of  a  Tub 
(licenced  1633),  Works,  vi.  231.—  Wit  and  Fancy  In  a  Maze. 
Or  the  JhconfMroMe  Champion  of  Love  and  Beautie.  A  Mock- 
Romance,  £c.  Written  originally  in  the  British  Tunyue,  and 
made  English  by  a  person  of  much  Honor.  Si  foret  in  ten-is 
rideret  Democritus.1  1656,  12mo.  In  this  romance  (p.  101) 
we  are  told  that  "  [In  Elysium J  the  Brittish  Bards  (forsooth) 
were  also  ingaged  in  quarrel  for  Superiority;  and  who  think 
you  threw  the  Apple  of  Discord  amongst  them,  but'  Ben 
Jonson,  who  had  openly  vaunted  himself  the  first  and  best 

of  English  Poets Skelton,  Gower,  and  the  Monk  of 

Bury  were  at  Daggers-drawing  forChawcer:"  and  a  mar- 
ginal note  on  "  Skelton  "  informs  us  that  he  was  "  Henry  4. 
his  Poet  Lawreat,  who  wrote  disguises  for  the  young  Princes  "  I 


i  Such  is  the  title-page  of  the  copy  now  before  me:  but 
some  copies  (see  Jiestituta,  iv.  196)  are  entitled  Don  Zara  del 
Foao,  &c.  1656;  and  others  Romancio-Mastix,  or  a  Ro'mance 
of  Romances,  &c.  By  Samuel  Holland.  Gent.  1660. 


APPENDIX  II. 


LIST  OF  EDITIONS,  &c. 


Here  begynneih  a  lytell  treatyse  named  the  bowge  of  courts. 
Colophon, 

Thus  endeth  the  Bowge  of  courte.  Enprynted,  at  Westmyn- 
tter  By  me  Wynkyn  the  Wwde.  4to,  n.d. 

On  the  title-page  is  a  woodcut  of  a  fox  and  a  bear. 

Here  begynneih  a  lytell  treatyse  named  the  bowge  of  courte. 
Colophon, 

Thus  endeth  the  Bowge  of  courte  Enprynted  at  London  Bj, 
Wynken  de  Worde  in  flute  strete,  at  the  sygne  ofthesonne.  4to, 
n.d. 

On  the  title-page  is  a  woodcut  of  three  men  and  a  woman. 


Here  folowythe  dyuers  Balettys  and  dyties  solacyous  deuysyd  by 
Master  Skelton  Laureat. 

Colophon,  Cum  priuilegio. 

4to,  n.d.,  and  without  printer's  name,  but  evidently  from 
the  press  of  Pynson.  (Consisting  of  4  leaves.) 

On  the  title-page  is  a  woodcut  representing  Skelton  seated 
in  his  study,  crowned  with  a  laurel  wreath,  and  over  his  head, 
"  Arboris  omne  genus  viridi  concedite  lauro  "  (see  Memoir, 
p.  lx.  note.) 


LIST    OF    EDITIONS,    &C.  cix 

It  contains — 

The  ballad,  "  My  darlyng  dere,  my  daysy  floure,"  &c. 

The  verses,  "  The  auncient  acquaintance,  madam,  betwen 
vs  twayne,"  &c. 

The  verses,  "  Knolege,  acquayntance,  resort,  fauour  with 
grace,"  &c. 

The  Latin  verses,  "Cuncta  licet  cecidisse  putas,"  &c., 
with  an  English  translation,  "  Though  ye  suppose,"  &c. 

The  verses,  "  Go,  pytyous  hart,  rasyd  with  dedly  wo,"  &c. 


Skelton  Laureate  agaynste  a  comely  Coystrowne  that  curyoicsly 
chawniyd  And  cvrryshly  coientred,  And  madly  in  hys  Jfusykkys 
mokkyshlymade,  Agaynste  the  .ix.  Jfusys  of  polytyke  Poems  $ 
Poettys  matryculat. 

Colophon,  Cum  priuilegio. 

4to,  n.d.,  and  without  printer's  name,  but  evidently  from 
the  press  of  Pynson.  (Consisting  of  4  leaves.) 

On  the  title-page  is  a  woodcut,  the  same  as  in  the  last  men- 
tioned tract,  but  with  a  different  border. 

It  contains — 

The  verses  mentioned  in  the  title-page. 

"  Contra  aliu  Catitate  &  Organisante  Asinum,  qui  impug- 
nabat  Skeltouida  pierium  Sarcasrnos." 

"  Skelton  Laureat  uppon  a  deedmans  hed  y'  was  sent  to 
hym  from  an  honorable  Jetyllwoman  for  a  token  Deuysyd 
this  gostly  medytacyon  in  Englysh  Couenable  in  sentence 
Comedable,  Lametable,  Lacrymable,  Profytable  for  the 
sonle." 

The  verses,  "  Womanhod,  wanton,  ye  want,"  &c. 


Honorificatissimo,  Amplissimo,  longeque  reuerendissimo  in 
Christo  patri:  Ac  domino,  domino  Thomee  cfc.  T'duli  sanctce 
Cecilia,  sacrosancta  Romance  ecclcsitz  presbytero  Curdinali  mer 
itissimo,  et  Apostolicce  sedis  legato.  A  latereque  legato  superil- 
lustri  (j-c.  Skdtonis  laureaius  Ora,  reg.  IlumiUunum,  dit.il 


CX  LIST    OF    EDITIONS,    &C. 

obsequium  cum  omni  debita  reuerentia,  tanto  tamque  magnijico 
dignaprincipe  sacerdiitum,  totiusque  iustitue  equabilissimo  modera- 
tore.  Ntcnon  presentis  opusculi  fautort  exctllentissimo  $c.  Ad 
cuius  avspiiotissitnam  contemplationem,  sub  memorabili  prelo 
gbriose  immortalitaiis  presens  pagellaftlicitatur  tfc. 

A  replication  agaynst  certayne  yong  scoters,  abiured  of  late 
<fc. 

Aryumentum. 

Crassantes  nimium,  Nimium  sterilesque  labruscas 
( Vinea  quas  dornini  sabaot  non  sustinet  ultra 
Laxias  txpandi)  nostra  est  resecare  uuluntas. 

Cum  priuileyio  a  rege  indvlto. 
Colophon, 

Thus  endeth  the  RepUcacyon  of  Skel.  L.  <f c.  Imprinted  by 
Richard  Pynson,  printer  to  the  kynyes  mast  noble  grace.  4to, 
n.d. 


A  ryght  delectable  tratyse  vpon  a  goodly  Garlande  or  Chapelet 
of  Laurett  by  maysler  Sktlton  Poete  laureat  studyously  dyitysed 
at  Sheryflwtton  Casfell.  In  y  foresle  of  goitres,  teher  in  ar 
coprysyde  many  <f  dyuers  solacyons  <f  ryght  pregnant  allectyues 
of  syngular  pleasure,  as  more  at  large  it  doth  apere  in  y>  proces 
folou-ynge. 

Colophon, 

Here  endith  a  rytfht  delectable  tratyse  vpon  a  goodly  garlonde 
or  chajielel  oflaurell  dyuysed  by  mayster  Skelton  Poete  laureat. 

Lnprynted  by  me  Ryiharde  faukes  dwellydg  [sic]  in  dura  rent 
or  els  in  Powlls  ihyrihe  yarde  at  the  sygne  of  the  A.  B.  C.  The 
yere  of  our  lorde  god . M.ccccc.xxm.  The  .Hi.  day  of  Octobre, 
4to. 

On  the  title-page  is  a  woodcut  representing  Skelton  seated 
in  his  study,  and  on  the  reverse  of  the  title-page  a  woodcut 
(copied  from  a  French  print — see  Memoir,  p.  Ix.  note,) — a 
whole-length  figure  of  a  man  holding  a  branch  in  one  hand 


LIST    OF    EDITIONS,    &C.  Cxi 

and  a  flower  in  the  other, — having  at  top  the  words  "  Skelton 
Poeta,"  and  at  bottom  the  following  verses; 

Eterno  mansura  die  dum  sidera  fulgent 

Equora  dumq  ;  tument  hec  laurea  nostra  virebil. 

Hinc  nostrum  cdebre  et  name  referetur  ad  astra 

Vndiq ;  Skeltmis  memorabitur  allera  donis  [alter  Adonis], 

On  the  reverse  of  A  ii.  are  small  woodcuts  of  "  The  quene  of 
Fame  "  and  "  Dame  Pallas."  After  the  colophon  is  the  de- 
vice of  the  printer,  "  Kichard  Fakes." 


Magnyfycence,  A  goodly  interlude  and  a  mery  deuysed  and 
made  by  mayster  Skelton  poet  laureate  late  deceased. 
Colophon,  Cum  priuileyio. 

folio,  n.d.,  and  without  printer's  name. 
This  edition  was  in  all  probability  from  Rastell's  press. 


Here  after  foloweth  the  boke  of  Pliillyp  Sparowe  compyled  by 
mayster  Skdton  Poete  Laureate. 

Colophon, 

Prynted  at  London  at  the  poultry  by  Rychard  Kele. 

12ino,  n.d.  On  reverse  of  the  last  leaf  is  a  woodcut  repre- 
senting Phyllyp  Sparowe's  tomb. 

An  edition  by  Kele,  4to,  n.d.,  is  mentioned  in  Typogr.  Antiq. 
iv.  305,  ed.  Dibdin :  but  qy.  ? 

Here  after  foloweth  a  lltle  booke  of  Pliillyp  Sparow,  compiled 
by  Mayster  Skelto  Poete  Laureate. 

Colophon, 

Imprynted  at  London  in  paules  churche  yerde  by  Robert  Toy. 

12mo,  n.d.  On  reverse  of  the  last  leaf  is  the  same  wood- 
cut as  in  the  ed.  last  described. 


CXU  LIST    OF    EDITIONS,    &C. 

Here  after  fuloweth  a  litle  boke  of  Phillip  sparow.  Compyled 
by  mayster  Sktlton  Poete  Laureate; 

Colophon, 

Imprinted  at  London  inpoules  churchyard,  at  the  sygne  of  the 
Sunne,  by  Antony  Kitson. 

Coldphon  in  some  copies, 

Imprinted  at  London  in  poules  churchyard  at  the  sygne  of  the 
Lamb,  by  Abraham  Weale  [sic]. 

Colophon  in  some  other  copies, 

Imprinted  at  London  in  Foster-lane  by  Ihon  Walley. 

12mo,  n.d. 

An  edition  Imprinted  at  London  in  paules  churche  yerde  by 
John  Wyijht,  with  a  woodcut  of  "  Phyllyp  Sparowes  tomb  " 
on  the  last  page,  is  mentioned  in  Typogr.  Antiq.  iv.  379.  ed. 
Dibdin. 


Sere  after foloweth  certaine  bolces  copyled  by  mayster  SkeUo, 
Poet  Laureat,  whose  names  here  after  shall  appere. 

Speake  Parol. 

The  death  of  the  noble  Prynce  Kynge  Edwarde  tlie  fourth. 

A  treatyse  of  the  Stottes. 

Ware  the  Hawke. 

The  Tunnynge  of  Elynoure  Rummyng. 
Colophon, 

Thus  endeth  these  lytle  workes  compiled  by  maister  Skelton 
Poet  Laureat. 

Impryntedat  London,  in   Crede  Lane,  by  John  Kynge  and 
Thomas  Marche. 

12mo,  n.d. 

Heare  after  foloweth  certain  bokes  Compiled  by  Muster  Skel- 
ton, Poet  Laureat,  whose  names  here  after  doth  appere. 

(Enumeration  of  pieces  as  above.) 

Imprynted  at  London  by  Ihon  Day. 
Colophon, 


LIST    OF    EDITIONS,    &C.  Cxiii 

Thus  endetk  these  litle,  works  compiled  by  maister  Skelton,  Poet 
Laurent. 
12mo,  n.d. 

Here  after  foloweth  certayne  bokes,  copyled  by  maysler  Skelton, 
Poet  Laureat,  whose  names  here  after  shall  appere.  y 

(Enumeration  of  pieces  as  above.) 

Printed  at  London  by  Richard  Lant,for  Henry  Tab,  dwelling 
in  Pauls  churchyard,  at  Hie  sygne  of  Judith. 

Colophon, 

Thus  endethe  these  lytett  workes  compyfed  by  mayster  Skdton 
Poet  Laureat.  Andprynted  by  Richard  Lant,  for  Henry  Tab, 
dwellyng  in  Poules  churche  yard  at  the  sygne  of  Judith. 

12mo,  n.d.  On  the  fly-leaf  of  the  copy  which  I  used,  but 
perhaps  not  belonging  to  it,  was  pasted  a  woodcut  represent- 
ing the  author,  with  the  words  "  Skelton  Poet "  (copied  from 
Pynson's  ed.  of  Dyuers  Balellys,  £c.,  and  the  same  as  that  on 
the  reverse  of  the  last  leaf  of  Kele's  ed.  of  Why  come  ye  nai 
to  Courte.) 

An  edition  printed  for  W.  Bonham,  1547,  12mo,  is  men- 
tioned by  Warton,  Hist,  of  E.  P.  ii.  336  (note,)  ed.  4to. 

The  various  editions  of  these  "certaine  bokes"  contain, 
besides  the  pieces  specified  on  the  title-page,  the  following 
poems — 

"  All  noble  men,  of  this  take  hede,"  &c.  [prefixed  to  the 
eds.  of  Why  come  ye  nat  to  Courte.] 

"  Howe  euery  thing  must  haue  a  tyme." 

"  Prayer  to  the  Father  of  Heauen." 

"  To  the  seconde  Person." 

u  To  the  Holy  Ghost." 


Here  after  foloweth  a  litel  boke  called  Colyn  Chute  compyled 
by  mayster  Skelton  poete  Laureate. 

Quis  cosurgat  mecu  adcersus  malignantes,  out  quisslabit  mecH 
adversus  operantes  iniquitatem.     Nemo  domine. 
VOL.    I.  H 


Cxiv  LIST    OF    EDITIONS,    &C. 

Colophon, 

Imp-inted  at  London  by  me  Rycliarde  Kde  dwellyng  in  the 
powltry  at  the  long  shop  vnder  saynt  Myldredes  chyrche. 

12mo,  n.d. 

An  edition  by  Kele,  4to,  n.d.,  is  mentioned  in  Typogr.  Antlq. 
iv.  305.  ed,  Dibdin:  but  qy.V 

Here  after  foloweth  a  title  booke  called  Colyn  Clout  compiled 
by  master  Sktlton  Poete  Laureate, 

Quis  cosurgat ,  &c.  (as  above.) 
Colophon, 

Jiymnted  at  London  in  Paules  Cliurche  yarde  at  the  Sygne  of 
the  Mose  by  John  Wyyhte. 

12mo,  n.d. 

Here  after  foloweth  a  litle  boke  called  Colyn  Clout  compiled  by 
master  Skelton  Poete  Laureate. 

Quis  consurgat,  &c.  (as  above.) 
Colophon, 

Jmprynted  at  London  in  Paules  Churche  yarde  at  the  Sygne 
of  the  Sunne  by  Anthony  Kytson. 

Colophon  in  some  copies, 

Jmprynted  at  London  in  Paules  Churche  yarde  at  the  Sygne 
of  the  Lambe  by  Abraham  Veale. 

12mo,  n.d. 

An  edition  Imprynted  at  London  by [Thomas  Godfray.J 

Cum  priuilegio  regali,  is  mentioned  in  Typogr.  Antiq.  iii.  71. 
ed.  Dibdin. 


Here  after  foloweth  a  lytell  boke,  whiche  hath  to  name,  Why 
come  ye  nat  to  courte,  compyled  by  mayster  Skelton  poete  Lau- 
reate. 

Colophon, 

Imprinted  at  london  by  me  Richard  Icele  dwelllg  in  the  powltry 
at  the  longe  shop  vnder  saynt  myldredes  chyrch. 

12mo,  n.d.    On  the  reverse  of  the  title-page  is  a  woodcut 


LIST    OF    EDITIONS,    &C.  CXV 

representing  two  figures,  one  of  them  perhaps  meant  for 
Wolsey,  the  other  headed  "  Skelton ;  "  and  on  the  reverse  of 
the  last  leaf  is  a  woodcut  (copied  from  Pynson's  edof  Dyuers 
Bakttys,  &c.)  with  the  words  "  Skylton  poyet." 

An  edition  by  Kele,  4to,  n.d.,  is  mentioned  in  Typogr.  Antiq. 
iv.  305.  ed.  Dibdin:  but  qy.? 

Here  after  foloweth  a  litlk  booke,  whiche  hath  to  name  Whi 
come  ye  not  to  courte,  compiled  by  mayster  Skelio  Poete  Laureate, 

Colophon, 

Imprynted  at  London  in  Paules  churche  yarde  at  the  Syyne  of 
the  Rose  by  John  Wyyht. 

12mo,  n.d.  On  the  reverse  of  the  title-page  is  a  woodcut, 
which  I  am  unable  to  describe,  because  in  the  copy  used  by 
me  it  was  much  damaged  as  well  as  pasted  over. 

Here  after  foloweth  a  litle  boke  whyche  hathe  to  name,  whye 
come  ye  not  to  Courte.  Compiled  by  mayster  Skelton  Poete  Lau- 
reate. 

Colophon, 

Imprynled  at  London  in  Ponies  church  yard  at  the  syne  of  the 
sunne  by  Anthony  Kytson. 

Colophon  in  some  copies, 

Imprynted  at  London  in  Potties  church  yard  at  the  syne  of  the 
Lamb  by  Abraham  Veale. 

Colophon  in  some  other  copies, 

Imprynted  at  London  in  Foster  lane  by  John  Wallye 

12mo,  n.d. 

An  edition,  Imprynted  at  London,  in  Paules  church  yarde  at 
the  Sygne  of  the  BM  by  ^Robert  Toy,  is  mentioned  in  Typogr. 
Antiq.  iii.  576.  ed.  Dibdin. 


LIST    OF    EDITIONS,    &C. 


Pithy  pleasaunl  and  profitable,  workes  of  maister  Skellon,  Poete 
Laureate.  Nowe  collected  and  newly  published.  Anno  1568. 
Imprinted  at  London  in  Fletestreate,  neare  vnto  saint  Dunstonea 
chtirche  by  Thomas  Marthe.  12mo. 

On  the  reverse  of  the  title-page  are  the  Latin  lines,  "  Salve, 
plus  decies,"  &c.  (see  vol.  i.  197);  next,  Churchyard's  verses, 
"If  slouth  and  tract  of  time,"  &c.  (see  Appendix  I.  p.  xciv); 
and  then  the  contents  of  the  volume  are  thus  enumerated; 


"  Workes  ofSkellon  newly  collected  by  I.  S.  asfoloweth. 


1.  The  crowne  of  lawrel. 

2.  The  bouge  of  court. 
8.  The  duke  of  Albany. 
4.  Speake  parrot. 

6.  Edward  the  fourth. 

6.  Against  the  Scottes. 
[Chorus  de  Dys  contra 

Scottes,  &c. 

Chorus  de  dis,  &c.  su- 
per  triumphali  victoria 
contra  gallos,  &c.] 

7.  Ware  the  hauke. 
[Libertas  veneranda,  &c. 
All  noble  men   of   this 

take  hede,  &c.] 

8.  Howe  euery  thinge  must 

haue  a  time. 

9.  A  prayer  to  the  father 

of  hcnuen. 

10.  To  y«  second  person. 

11.  To  the  holy  ghost. 

12.  The  tunning  of  Elinour 

Rumming. 

13.  The  relucet  mirror. 

14.  Why  come  ye    not   to 

court. 


15.  Colyn  Clout 

16.  Philip  sparowe. 

17.  Of  a  comly  Coystrowne. 
[Contra  alium  Cantita- 

tem  &  Organisantem 
Asinam,  &c.J 

18.  Upo  a  deadmas  heed. 

19.  To  maistris  Anne. 

20.  Of  thre  fooles. 

21.  En  parlement  a  Paris. 

22.  Epitaphes  of  two  knaues 

of  clise. 
[Diligo  rustincum,  &c.] 

23.  Lamentation    for    Nor- 

wiche. 

24.  Against  y  Scottes  [i.  e. 

against  Dundas]. 

25.  Praise  of  ye  palmtre. 
[Diligo  rusticum,  &c.] 

26.  Bedel  quoda  Belial. 

27.  The    dolorus    death  of 

the  Lord   Percie  Erie 
of    Northumber- 
Innde. 

[Ad    magistrum    Ruk- 
shaw.] 


LIST    OF    EDITIONS,    &C.  CXVli 

28.  Epitnphium     Margarcte        31.  A  parable    by   William 

countisse  de  Derbi.  Cornishe  in  y*  Fleete. 

29.  Epita.  Hen.  septi.  32.  Against     venemous 

30.  Eulogium    pro    suorum  tongues. 

temporum.  33.  Of  Calliope. 

How  the  very  dull  poem  (31)  by  William  Cornishe  came 
to  be  inserted  in  this  collection,  I  know  not:  but  I  may  just 
observe  that  it  is  found  (with  a  better  text)  in  MS.  Reg.  18. 
D.  ii.  where  it  immediately  precedes  Skeltou's  verses  on  the 
Death  of  the  Earl  of  Northumberland. 


"  Now  synge  we,  as  we  were  wont,"  &c. — in  an  imperfect 
volume  (or  fragments  of  volumes)  of  black-letter  Christmat 
CaroUes,—Bibttoyra])h.  MsceU.  (edited  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bliss,) 
1813,  4to,  p.  48. 


Concerning  the  comparatively  modern  edition  of  Elynow 
Rummynge,  1624,  4to  (cetebrated  for  the  imaginary  portrait 
of  Elynour,)  see  Notes,  vol.  iii.  88  sqq. 


Wood  mentions  as  by  Skelton  (Ath.  Oxon.i.  52.  ed.  Bliss)— 

Poetical  Fancies  and  Satyrs,  Lond.  1512,  Oct. 

Tanner  mentions  (Biblloth.  p.  676) — 

Miseries  of  England  under  Henry  vii.  Lond.  .  .  .  4to.     [Qy. 

is  it  the  same  piece  as  Vox  Populi,  Vox  Dei  f] 
Warton  mentions  (Hist,  of  E.  P.  ii.  336,  note,  ed.  4to) — 
A  collection  of  Skelton's  pieces  printed  for  A.  Scolocker 

1582,  12mo. 


LIST    OF    EDITIONS,    &C. 

Bliss  mentions  (add.  to  Wood's  Ath.  Oxon.  i.  53)— 
A  collection  of  Skelton's  pieces  printed  in  12mo  by  A.  Scho- 
loker,  n.d.,  and 
Another  by  John  Wight  in  8vo,  1588. 


Of  Skelton's  drama,  The  Nigramansir,  the  following  ac- 
count is  given  by  Warton : — 

"  I  cannot  quit  Skelton,  of  whom  I  yet  fear  too  much  has 
been  already  said,  without  restoring  to  the  public  notice  a 
play,  or  MORALITY,  written  by  him,  not  recited  in  any  cata- 
logue of  his  works,  or  annals  of  English  typography;  and,  I 
believe,  at  present  totally  unknown  to  the  antiquarians  in  this 
sort  of  literature.  It  is,  The  NIGRAMANSIR,  a  morall  ENTER- 
LUDE  andapithie  written  by  Maister  SKELTON  laureate  and 
plaid  before  the  king  and  otlier  estatys  at  Woodsloke  on  Palme 
Sunday.  It  was  printed  by  Wynkin  de  Worde  in  a  thin 
quarto,  in  the  year  J504.1  It  must  have  been  presented  before 
king  Henry  the  seventh,  at  the  royal  manor  or  palace,  at 
Woodstock  in  Oxfordshire,  now  destroyed.  The  characters 
are  a  Necromancer  or  conjurer,  the  devil,  a  notary  public, 
Simonie,  and  Philargyria  or  Avarice.  It  is  partly  a  satire  on 
some  abuses  in  the  church ;  yet  not  without  a  due  regard  to 
decency,  and  an  apparent  respect  for  the  dignity  of  the 
audience.  The  story,  or  plot,  is  the  tryal  of  SIMONY  and 
AVARICE:  the  devil  is  the  judge,  and  the  notary  public  acts 


i  "  My  lamented  friend  Mr.  William  Collins,  whose  Odes 
will  be  remembered  while  any  taste  for  true  poetry  remains, 
shewed  me  this  piece  at  Chichester,  not  many  months  before 
his  death:  and  he  pointed  it  out  as  a  very  rare  and  valuable 
curiosity.  He  intended  to  write  the  HISTORY  OF  THE  RESTO- 
RATION OF  LEARNING  .UNDER  LEO  THE  TENTH,  and  With  a 

view  to  that  design,  had  collected  many  scarce  books.  Some 
few  of  these  fell  into  my  hands  at  his  death.  The  rest,  among 
which,  I  suppose,  was  this  INTERLUDE,  were  dispersed." 


LIST    OF    EDITIONS,    &C.  CX1X 

as  an  assessor  or  scribe.  The  prisoners,  as  we  may  suppose, 
are  found  guilty,  and  ordered  into  hell  immediately.  There 
is  no  sort  of  propriety  in  calling  this  phy  the  Necromancer: 
for  the  only  business  and  use  of  this  character,  is  to  open  the 
subject  in  a  long  prologue,  to  evoke  the  devil,  and  summon 
the  court.  The  devil  kicks  the  necromancer,  for  waking  him 
so  soon  in  the  morning:  a  proof  that  this  drama  was  per- 
formed in  the  morning,  perhaps  in  the  chapel  of  the  palace. 
A  variety  of  measures,  with  shreds  of  Latin  and  French,  is 
used:  but  the  devil  speaks  in  the  octave  stanza.  One  of  the 
stage-directions  is,  Enter  Balsebub  with  a  Berde.  To  make 
him  both  frightful  and  ridiculous,  the  devil  was  most  com- 
monly introduced  on  the  stage  wearing  a  visard  with  an  im- 
mense beard.  Philargyria  quotes  Seneca  and  saint  Austin: 
and  Simony  offers  the  devil  a  bribe.  The  devil  rejects  her 
offer  with  much  indignation:  and  swears  by  the  foule  Eu~ 
menides,  and  the  hoary  beard  of  Charon,  that  she  shall  be 
well  fried  and  roasted  in  the  unfathomable  sulphur  of  Cocy- 
tus,  together  with  Mahomet,  Pontius  Pilate,  the  traitor  Judas, 
and  king  Herod.  The  last  scene  is  closed  with  a  view  of 
hell,  and  a  dance  between  the  devil  and  the  necromancer. 
The  dance  ended,  the  devil  trips  up  the  necromancer's  heels, 
and  disappears  in  fire  and  smoke."  Hist,  of  E.  P.  ii.  360. 
ed.  4to. 


In  the  Garlande  of  LaureU  (vol.  ii.  221,  sqq.)  Skelton  enu- 
merates many  of  his  compositions  which  are  no  longer  ex- 
tant. 

PIECES  ATTRIBUTED   TO   SKELTON. 

Verses  presented  to  King  Henry  the  Seventh  at  the  feast  of  St. 
George  celebrated  at  Windsor  in  the  third  year  of  his  reign— 
first  printed  by  Ashmole  (see  vol.  ii.  345  of  the  present  work.) 

The  Epitaffe  of  the  moste  noble  and  valyittnt  Juspar  late  Duke 
of  Beddeforde,  printed  by  Pynson,  4to,  n.d.  (see  vol.  ii.  347.) 

Elegy  on  King  Henry  the  Setentii— an  imperfect  broadside 
(see  vol.  ii.  362.) 


CXX  LIST    OF    EDITIONS,    &C. 

Merie  Tales  Newly  Imprinted  <$•  made  by  Master  Skellon  Poet 
Laureat.  Imprinted  at  London  in  Fleetstreat  beneath  the  Con- 
duit at  the  signe  of  S.  John  Euangelist,  by  Thomas  Colwell,  12mo, 
n.d.  (see  the  preceding  Appendix.)  Warton,  Hist,  of  E.  P. 
ii.  336  (note,)  gives  the  date  1575  to  these  tales, — on  what 
authority  I  know  not. 

Other  pieces  might  be  mentioned. 


Of  the  death  of  the  noble  prince,  Kynge  Edwarde  the  forth. 
In  a  vol.  belonging  to  Miss  Richardson  Currur,  which  has  fur- 
nished a  stanza  hitherto  unprinted  (vol.  i.  3.) 

Vpon  the  doulourus  dethe  and  muclie  lamentable  chaunce  of  the 
most  honorable  Erie  of  NorOiumberlande.  MS.  Reg.  18  D  ii. 
fol.  165  (vol.  i.  8.) 

Manerly  Margery  Mi/Dc  and  Ale.  Fairfax  MS.— Add.  MSS. 
(Brit.  Mus.)  5465,  fol.  109  (vol.  i.  35.) 

Poems  against  Garnesche.  MS.  Harl  367,  fol.  101.  Now 
for  the  first  time  printed  (vol.  i.  132.) 

"  Wofully  araid,"  &c.  Fairfax  MS.,— Add.  MSS.  5465, 
fol.  76  and  fol.  86  (Brit.  Mus.):  and  MS.  copy  in  a  very  old 
hand  on  the  fly-leaves  of  Boelius  de  Disdp.  Schol.  cum  notabiU 
commento,  Daventrie,  1496,  4to  (in  the  collection  of  the  late 
Mr.  Heber,)  which  has  supplied  several  stanzas  hitherto  un- 
printed (vol.  i.  165.) 

"  /,  liber,  et  jrropera,  reaem  tu  promts  adora,"  &c.  MS. 
C.  C.  C.— No.  ccccxxxii.  of  Nasmith's  Catal.  p.  400  (vol.  i.  172.) 

"  Salve  plus  decies  quarn  sunt  momenta  diemm"  &c.  Add. 
MSS.  (Brit.  Mus.)  4787,  fol.  224  (vol.  i.  197.) 

Colyn  Cloute.  MS.  Harl.  2252,  fol.  147  (vol.  ii.  125.)— In 
MS.  Lansdoton  762,  fol.  75,  is  a  fragment  of  this  poem,  "  The 
profecy  of  Skelton  "  (vol.  ii.  141.) 


LIST    OF    EDITIONS,    &C.  CXxi 

Garlande  of  Laurett.  MS.  Cott.  Vil.  EX.  fol.  200;  very 
imperfect  (vol.  ii.  170.) 

Speke,  Parrot.  MS.  Harl.  2252,  fol.  133,  which  has  sup- 
plied  much  now  for  the  first  time  printed  (vol.  ii.  245.) 

Diodorus  Siculus  translated  into  English  [by  Skellon  poet-tau- 
reat].  MS.  <?.  (7.  C— No.  ccclvii.  of  Nasmith's  Catal.  p.  362. 

For  the  following  account  of  this  MS.  I  am  indebted  to  Mr. 
Thomas  Wright:— 

"  MS.  Corp.  Chr.  Camb.  No.  357. 

At  the  head  of  the  first  folio—'  Interpretatio  Skeltoni  poetae 
Laureati,'  written  in  a  different  hand  from  the  MS.  (by  Na- 
smith  said  to  be  by  Archb.  Parker  himself)  over  something 
which  has  been  erased,  but  which  seems  to  have  been  '  Pro- 
hemye  of  Poggius.' 

At  the  end  of  this  preface  is  written  in  the  same  hand  as 
MS.  '  Thus  endeth  the  prohemye  of  Poggius.'  fol.  2  verso. 

At  fol.  3  begins  '  The  prohemy  of  Diodorus  thauctour.' 
This  ends  at  fol.  7  thus,— 

If  '  Now  we  wyll  enforce  to  begynne  our  processe  historyall. 
qnod  Skelton. 

If  Here  endeth  the  prohemy  of  all  the  hole  processe.'. 
The  words  '  quod  Skelton '  are  written  in  rather  a  different 
hand,  and  with  different  ink,  but  apparently  contemporary. 
I  think  it  not  impossible  that  they  may  have  been  added  by 
the  original  hand  at  another  time. 

It  is  imperfect  at  the  end :  but  on  a  leaf  bound  up  with  it 
is  written  in  a  much  later  hand  (perhaps  by  Parker,)  '  Hec 
charta  de  industria  vacua  relicta  est,  ut  occasio  daretur  ju- 
veni  in  litteris  exercitato  aggrediendi  translationem  historise 
que  hie  diminuta  est,  ut  sic  humeri  sui  vires  experiatur  quid 
ferre  valennt,  quidve  recusent,  turn  cognoscet  quid  hie  trans- 
lator prestiterit,  fortassis  non  ita  facile  in  hoc  genere  a  mul- 
tis  superandus.' " 

Tanner  (Biblioth.  p.  676.  ed.  1748)  mentions  the  following 
two  pieces  as  extant  in  his  day  among  the  MSS.  of  Lincoln 
Cathedral  Library  (see  Memoir,  pp.  xxi,  xxiii.) — 

Methodos  Skeltonidis  laureati,  sc.  Prcecepla  qucedam  moraJia 
Henrico  principi,  posted  Henr.  viii,  missa,  Dat.  apud  Eltham 
A.D.  MDI.  Principium  deest. 


LIST    OF    EDITIONS,    &C. 

Carmen  adprincipem,  quando  insignitus  erat  duds  Ebor.  iitvlo. 
Pr.  "  Si  quid  habes,  mea  Musa." 


MSS.   OF   PIECES  ATTRIBUTED   TO   SKELTON. 

Vox  Popult,  vox  Dei.     MS.  2567  Cambridge  Public  Li 
brary.     MS.  Hart.  367.  fol.  130  (see  vol.  ii.  364.) 

The  Image  of  Jpocrysy.    MS.  Lansdoim  794  (see  vol.  ii.  388.) 

Other  pieces  might  be  mentioned. 


APPENDIX    III. 

EXAMPLES 

OF 
THE  METRE  CALLED  SKELTONICAL. 


The  Genealogye  of  Ileresye.  Compyled  by  Ponce  Pantolabus. 
Imprynted  at  London  In  Pater  noster  rowe.  At  the  signe  of 
our  ladyepytye  [some  copies,  ourfadyr  Pyte]  By  Johan  Red- 
man. Ad  impnmendutn  solum,  1542 :  another  edition  was 
printed  by  Robert  Wyer:  vide  Typograph.  Antiq.  iii.  69, 
182.  ed.  Dibdin  (the  size  of  them  not  mentioned.)  The 
author  was  John  Huntingdon. 

These  editions  I  have  not  seen:  the  whole  of  the  tract, 
however,  seems  to  be  quoted  in  A  mysterye  of  inyquyte  con- 
tayned  within  the  heretycall  Genealoyye  of  Ponce  Pantolabus,  is 
here  both  dysclused  $  confuted  By  Juhan  Bale  An.  M.D.XLII. 
12mo,  Geneva,  1545,  from  which  1  subjoin  the  following  pas- 
sages: 

"  Blynde  obstynacye 
Begate  heresye, 
By  a  myschaunce, 
Of  daine  ignoraunce. 
Heresye  begute 
Stryfe  and  debate. 


EXAMPLES    OF    THE    METRE 

Debate  and  ambycyon 
Begate  supersticyon. 
Supersticion  playne 
Begate  disdayne. 
Dysdayne  of  trowthe 
Begate  slowthe. 
Slowthe  &  sluggyshnesse 
Begate  wylfulnesse. 
Wylfulnesse,  verelye 
Nygh  cosyne  to  heresye, 
Begate  myschefe, 
Father  of  Wyclefe, 
Which  ded  bringe  inne 
His  grandfather  synne. 
After  this  brother 
Came  forth  an  other; 
His  name  to  discusse, 
Menne  called  him  Husse; 
He  and  his  cumpanye 
Began  in  Germanye. 
And  after  that 
Came  in  a  gnat 
Of  the  same  kynde, 
Whose  sowle  is  blynde; 
His  name  you  shall  here, 
Menne  call  him  Luthere. 
He  by  his  meane 
Hath  bannyshed  cleane 
Out  of  that  coste 
The  Holye  Glioste, 
And  hath  brought  inne 
Lyberte  and  synne. 
Next  after  him, 
Is  his  ehefe  lym 
One  Melanchtonus, 
Nequaquam  bonus. 
Next  after  this  whelpe 
Came  in  to  helpe 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL. 

One  Oecolampadius, 
With  his  brother  Zuinglius. 

And  for  this  tyme 
Here  endeth  my  ryme, 
The  Geneulogye 
Of  stynkynge  heresye : 
Wherin  I  requyre 
And  humblye  desyre 
All  menne  ywys 
That  shall  rede  this, 
Aboue  all  thinge 
To  praye  for  our  kynge, 
And  the  queue  also 
Where  so  euer  she  go, 
And  for  the  sauegarde 
Of  our  prince  Edwarde, 
Whom  1  praye  Jesu 
Longo  to  contynewe! 
Amen." 


From  A  pore,  Jielpe. 

The  bukler  and  defence 
Of  mother  holy  kyrke, 
And  weape  to  driue  hence 
Al  that  against  her  wircke. 
12mo,  without  date  or  printer's  name. 

"  Wyll  none  in  all  this  lande 
Step  forth  and  take  in  hande 
These  felowes  to  withstande, 
In  nombre  lyke  tlie  sande, 
That  with  the  Gospell  melles, 
And  wyll  do  nothynge  elles 
But  tratlynge  tales  telles 


EXAMPLES    OF    THE    METRE 

Agaynst  our  holy  prelacie 

And  holy  churches  dygnitie, 

Sayinge  it  is  but  papistrie, 

Yea,  fayned  and  hipocrisy, 

Erronious  and  heresye, 

And  taketh  theyr  aucthoritie 

Out  of  the  holy  Euangelie, 

All  customcs  ceremoniall 

And  rytes  ecclesiasticall, 

Not  grounded  on  Scripture, 

No  longer  to  endure  ? 

And  thus,  ye  maye  be  sure, 

The  people  they  alure 

And  drawe  them  from  your  lore, 

The  ivhiche  wyll  greve  you  sore; 

Take  hede,  I  save,  therfore, 

Your  nede  was  neuer  more. 

But  sens  ye  be  so  slacke, 

It  greueth  me,  alacke, 

To  heare  behynde  your  backe 

Howe  they  wyll  carpe  and  cracke, 

And  none  of  you  that  dare 

With  J  one  of  them  compare. 

Yet  some  there  be  that  are 

So  bolde  to  shewe  theyr  ware, 

And  is  no  priest  nor  deacon, 

And  yet  wyll  fyre  his  becone 

Agaynst  suche  fellowes  frayle, 

Make  out  with  tothe  and  nayle, 

And  hoyste  vp  meyne  sayle, 

And  manfully  to  fyght, 

In  holy  prelates  ryght, 

With  penne  and  ynke  and  paper, 

And  lyke  no  triflynge  iaper 

To  touche  these  felowes  indede 


Old  ed.  "  Whiche." 


CALLED    SKELTOXICAL.  CXXvii 

With  all  expedient  spede, 

And  not  before  it  nede: 

And  I  indede  am  he 

That  wayteth  for  to  se 

Who  dare  so  hardy  be 

To  encounter  here  with  me ; 

I  stande  here  in  defence 

Of  some  that  be  far  hence, 

And  can  both  blysse  and  sence, 

And  also  vndertake 

Ryght  holy  thynges  to  make, 

Yea,  God  within  a  cake; 

And  who  so  that  forsake 

His  breade  shall  bo  dowe  bake ; 

I  openly  professe 

The  holy  blyssed  masse 

Of  strength  to  be  no  lesse 

Then  it  was  at  the  fyrst: 

But  I  wolde  se  who  durst 

Set  that  amonge  the  worst, 

For  he  shulde  be  accurst 

With  boke,  bell,  and  candell, 

And  so  I  wolde  hym  handell 

That  he  shulde  ryght  well  knowe 

Howe  to  escape,  I  trowe, 

So  hardy  on  his  heade, 

Depraue  our  holy  breade, 

Or  els  to  prate  or  patter 

Agaynst  our  holy  watter. 

This  is  a  playne  matter, 

It  nedcth  not  to  flatter: 

They  be  suche  holy  thynges 

As  hath  ben  vsed  with  kynges; 

And  yet  these  lewde  loselles, 

That  bragge  vpon  theyr  Gospelles, 

At  ceremonies  swelles, 

And  at  our  christined  belles, 

And  at  our  longe  gownes, 

And  at  your  shauen  crownes, 


EXAMPLES    OF    THE    METRE 

And  at  your  typ[i]ttes  fyne, 

The  iauelles  wyll  repyne. 

They  saye  ye  leade  euyll  lyues 

With  other  mennes  wyues, 

And  wyll  none  of  your  owne, 

And  so  your  sede  is  sowne 

In  other  mennes  grounde, 

True  wedlocke  to  confounde ; 

Thus  do  they  rayle  and  raue, 

Callynge  euery  priest  knaue, 

That  loueth  messe  to  saye, 

And  after  ydle  all  daye : 

They  wolde  not  haue  you  playe 

To  dryue  the  tyme  awaye, 

But  brabble  on  the  Byble, 

Whiche  is  but  impossible 

To  be  learned  in  all  your  lyfe ; 

Yet  therin  be  they  ryfe, 

Whiche  maketh  all  this  stryfe,"  &c. 


From  The   Vpcheringe  of  the  Messe :  Inprinted  at  Lodon  by 
John  Daye  and  WiUyam  Seres,  12mo,  n.d. 

"  Who  hath  not  knowen  or  herd 
How  we  were  made  afeard 
That,  magre  of  our  beard, 
Our  messe  shulde  cleane  awaye, 
That  we  did  dayly  saye, 
Aud  vtterly  decaye 
For  euer  and  for  aye  ? 
So  were  we  brought  in  double 
That  all  that  are  deuout 
Were  like  to  go  withoute 
The  messe  that  hath  no  peere, 
Which  longe  hath  taried  here, 
Yea,  many  an  hundreth  yere, 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL. 

And  to  be  destitute 

Of  that  whiche  constitute 

Was  of  the  highe  depute 

Of  Christe  and  his  apostles; 

Althoughe  none  of  the  Gospels 

No  mention  maketh  or  tells, 

We  must  belue  (what  ells?) 

Of  things  done  by  councells, 

Wherein  the  high  professours, 

Apostlique  successours, 

Take  holde  to  be  possessours ; 

And  some  were  made  confessours; 

Some  of  them  were  no  startars, 

But  were  made  holi  marters : 

Yet  plowmen,  smythcs,  £  cartars, 

With  such  as  be  their  hartars, 

Will  enterprise  to  taxe 

Thes  auncyeut  inens  actes 

And  holy  fathers  factes. 

Thoughe  messe  were  made  bi  men, 

As  popes  nyne  or  ten, 

Or  many  more,  what  then  ? 

Or  not  of  Scripture  grounded, 

Is  yt  therfore  confounded 

To  be  a  snpersticion  V 

Nay,  nay,  they  mysse  the  quission: 

Make  better  inquyssiciou; 

Ye  haue  an  euyll  condicion 

To  make  suche  exposicion; 

Ye  thinke  nothinge  but  Scripture 

Is  only  clene  and  pure ; 

Yes,  yes,  I  you  ensure, 

The  messe  shalbe  hir  better, 

As  light  as  ye  do  set  hir. 

The  Scripture  hath  nothing 
Wherby  profyte  to  bryng, 
But  a  lytyll  preaching, 
With  tattling  and  teaching; 


EXAMPLES    OF    THE    METRE 

And  nothing  can  ye  espie 
Nor  se  with  outwarde  eye, 
But  must  your  ears  applie 
To  learnyng  iiuvardlye; 
And  who  so  it  will  folowe; 
In  goods  though  he  may  walow, 
If  Scripture  once  him  swalowe, 
She  wyll  vndo  him  holowe ; 
Wherfore  no  good  mes  singers 
Will  come  within  hir  fyngers, 
But  are  hir  vnder  styrigers, 
For  she  wolde  fayne  vudo 
All  such  as  lyueth  so. 

To  the  messe  she  is  an  enymye, 
And  wolde  distroye  hir  vtterlye, 
Wef  not  for  sum  that  frendfully 
In  time  of  nede  will  stand  hir  by. 
Yet  is  the  messe  and  she  as  lyke 
As  a  Christian  to  an  heretike : 
The  messe  hath  holy  vestures, 
And  many  gay  gestures, 
And  decked  with  clothe  of  golde, 
And  vessells  many  folde, 
Right  galaunt  to  beholde, 
More  then  may  well  be  tolde, 
With  basen,  ewer,  and  towell, 
And  many  a  prety  jwelle, 
With  goodly  candellstyckes, 
And  many  proper  tryckys, 
With  cruetts  gilt  and  chalys, 
Wherat  some  men  haue  malice, 
With  sensers.  and  with  pax, 
And  many  other  knackys, 
With  patent,  and  with  corporaa, 
The  fyncst  thing  that  euer  was. 
Alasse,  is  it  not  pitie 
That  men  be  no  more  wittye 
But  on  the  messe  to  iest, 
Of  all  suche  thinge  the  best? 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL. 

For  if  she  were  supprest, 
A  pyu  for  all  the  rest. 

A,  good  mestres  Missa, 
Shal  ye  go  from  vs  thissa? 
Wei,  yet  I  muste  ye  kissa: 
Alacke,  for  payne  I  pyssa, 
To  se  the  mone  here  issa, 
Because  ye  muste  departe ! 
It  greueth  many  a  herte 
That  ye  should  from  them  start: 
But  what  then?  tushe,  a  farte! 
Sins  other  shifte  is  none, 
But  she  must  neades  be  gone, 
Nowe  let  vs  synge  eche  one, 
Boeth  Jak  and  Gyll  and  Jone, 
Reipiiem  eternam, 
Lest  penam  sempiternam 
For  vitam  supernam, 
And  iinbram  infernam 
For  veram  lucemam, 
She  chaunce  to  enherite, 
According  to  hir  tnerite. 

Pro  cuius  memoria 
Ye  maye  wel  be  soria ; 
Full  smale  maye  be  your  gloria, 
When  ye  shal  heare  thys  storia; 
Then  wil  ye  crie  and  roria, 
We  shal  se  *  hir  no  moria: 
Et  dicam  vobis  quare 
She  may  no  longer  stare, 
Nor  here  with  you  regnare, 
But  trudge  ad  vitro,  mare, 
And  after  habltare 
In  reyno  PliUonico 
El  euo  acronyco, 


•se]  Olded. 


EXAMPLES    OF    THE    METRE 

Cum  cetu  Babikmico 
Et  canlu  diabolico, 
With  pollens  and  piller[s], 
And  nl  liir  well  willers, 
And  ther  to  dwel  euer: 
And  thus  wil  I  leaue  hir." 


From  Phylogamus,  12mo,  without  date  or  printer's  name — of 
which  the  title-page  and  five  leaves  are  preserved  in  a 
volume  of  Ballads  and  Fragments  in  the  British  Museum. 
The  late  Mr.  Douce  has  written  below  the  title-page 
"  Probably  by  Skelton;  "  but  it  is  certainly  not  his. 

"  Gyue  place,  ye  poetes  fine, 
Bow  doune  now  &  encline; 
For  nowe  y«  Muses  nyne, 
So  sacred  and  diuine 
In  Parnase  holy  hyll 
Haue  wrought  theyr  worthy  wyll, 
And  by  theyr  goodly  skyll 
Vppon  that  myghtymountayne 
In  Hellycons  fouutayne,  &c. 


0  poete  so  impudent, 
Whyche  neuer  yet  was  studente, 
To  thee  the  goddes  prudente 
Minerua  isilludente! 
Thou  wrytest  thynges  dyffuse, 
Incongrue  and  confuse, 
Obfuscate  and  obtuse ; 
No  man  the  lyke  doth  use 
Among  the  Turckes  or  Jewes; 
Alwayes  inuentyng  newes 
That  are  incomparable, 
They  be  so  fyrme  aud  stable : 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL. 

Lyke  as  a  shyppe  is  able, 
Wythout  ancre  and  cable, 
Roother,  maste,  or  sayle, 
Fully,  rope,  or  nayle, 
In  wynde,  weather,  or  Imyle, 
To  guyde  both  top  and  tayle, 
And  not  the  course  to  fayle; 
So  thys  our  poet  maye, 
Wythout  a  stopp  or  staye, 
In  cunnynge  wend  the  way, 
As  wel  by  darke  as  day, 
And  neuer  go  astray, 
Yf  yt  be  as  they  save. 

0  poet  rare  and  recent, 
Dedecorate  and  indecent, 
Insolent  and  insensate, 
Contendyng  and  concleusate, 
Obtused  and  obturate, 
Obumbylate,  obdurate, 
Sparyng  no  priest  or  curate, 
Cyuylyan  or  rurate, 

That  be  alredy  marryed, 
And  from  theyr  vow  bene  varyed, 
Wherto  the  Scrypture  them  caried ! 
They  myght  as  wcl  haue  taryed ; 

1  sweare  by  the  north  doore  rood, 
That  stowte  was  whyle  he  stood, 
That  they  had  bene  as  good 

To  haue  solde  theyr  best  blew  hood; 
For  I  am  in  suche  a  moode, 
That  for  my  power  and  parte, 
Wytli  all  iny  wyt  and  arte, 
Wyth  whole  intent  and  harte, 
I  wyl  so  at  them  darte,"  &c. 


EXAMPLES    OF    THE    METRE 


The  Copye  of  a  letter,  sent  by  John  Bradford  to  the  right  honor- 
able lordes  the  Erles  ofAmntlel,  Darbie,  Shrewsbury,  ef  Pen- 
broke,  declarig  tiie  nature  of  sjtaniardes,  and  discouering  the 
most  detestable  treasons,  tchuhe  they  haue  pretended  moste 
fahelye  againste  oure  moste  noble  kymjdome  of  Englcmde. 
Whereunto  is  added  a  tragical  blast  of  the  papistical/,  tropet 
for  mayntenaunce  of  the  Popes  kinydome  in  Enylande.  by. 
T.  K  Ifyebeleue  the  ti-ueth,  ye  snue  your  lines,  £c.  12mo, 
and  without  date  or  printer's  name  on  the  title-page :  the 
copy  now  before  me  is  imperfect  at  the  end,  where  perhaps 
both  are  given.  According  to  Herbert's  Ames's  Typ.  Antiq. 
iii.  1582,  this  piece  was  printed  in  1555. 

In  the  two  subjoined  passages  (perhaps  in  more)  of  this 
tract,  the  author  adopts  the  Skeltoiiio  metre,  though  the 
whole  is  printed  as  prose : — 

"  There  be  many  other  noble  menne  [among  the  Spaniards, 
besides  the  duke  of  Medena-zeliej  vndoubtedly  very  wise  and 
politik,  which  can  throughe  their  wisdome  binde  themselues 
for  a  time  from  their  nature,  and  applye  their  condicions  to 
the  manors  of  those  menne  with  whom  they  would  gladlye 
beefrended;  whose  mischeuouse  maners  a  man  shal  neuer 
knowe,  til!  he  come  vnder  their  subiection.  But  then  shall 
ye  perceiue  perfectly  their  puffed  pride,  with  many  mis- 
cheffes  beside,  their  prowling  and  poling,  their  bribinge  and 
Bhauing,  their  most  deceitfull  dealing,  their  braging  and  bost- 
ing,  their  flatteringe  and  faininge,  their  abominable  whore- 
hunty.nge,  with  most  rufull  ruling,  |  their  doings  vniust,  | 
with  insaciate  lust,  |  their  stout  stubbernnes,  |  croked  crabbed- 
nes,  |  and  vnmeasurable  madnes,  |  in  enui,  pride,  and  leche- 
rie,  |  which,  thei  sale,  God  loueth  hartelie,  |  vaineglorie  and 
hipocrisie,  |  with  al  other  vilanie  |  of  what  kinde  soeuer  it 
be;  |  supersticion,  desolacion,  extorcion,  adulacion,  dissimu- 
lacion,  exaltacion,  suppression,  inuocacion,  and  all  abomina- 
cion;  with  innumerable  moe  mischeues,  whiche  I  coulde 
plainlie  declare,  that  no  nacion  in  the  world  can  suffer.  Their 
masking  and  mumbling  |  in  the  holi  time  of  lent  |  maketh 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL.  CXXXV 

many  wiues  brente,  |  the  king  being  present,  |  nighte  after 
nighte,  |  as  a  prince  of  raoste  mighte,  |  which  hath  power  in 
his  hande  |  that  no  man  dare  withstande:  |  yet  if  that  were 
the  greatest  euil,  |  we  might  suffer  it  wel,  |  for  there  ia  no 
man  liuing  |  but  would  suffer  the  king  |  to  haue  wife,  sister, 
doughter,  maide  and  all.  |  bothe  great  &  smal,  |  so  many  as 
he  liste,  |  no  man  would  him  resist ;  |  but  the  worst  of  all  the 
companie  |  must  haue  my  wife  priuelie,  |  when  I  am  present 
bi ;  |  this  is  more  vilanie,  |  that  one  muste  kepe  the  dore ;  | 
will  not  that  greue  you  sore  ?  |  &  dare  not  speake  for  your 
life,  |  when  another  hath  youre  wife,"  |  &c.  Sig.  B  i. 

"  Ye  wil  say,  the  Spaniards  kepe  their  olde  rentaking : 
how  can  that  be,  when  euery  poore  man  must  pay  yerely  for 
euery  chimney  in  his  house,  and  euery  other  place  that  is  to 
make  fire  in,  as  ouen,  fornes,  and  smithes  forge,  a  Frenche 
crowne?  wil  Englishmen,  or  can  thei,  suffer  to  be  poled  and 
pilled  moste  miserably,  in  payeng  continually  suche  poling 
pence  and  intollerable  tollages  for  all  maner  graine  and  breado, 
befe,  beare  and  mutton,  goose,  pigge  and  capone,  henne,  mal- 
lard and  chicken,  milk,  butter  and  chese,  egges,  apples  & 
peares,  |  wine  white  and  reade,  |  with  all  other  wines  beside,  | 
salt  white  and  graye  ?  |  al  thinges  must  pay ;  |  small  nuttes 
and  wallnuttes,  |  cheries  and  chestnuttes,  |  plumbes,  damas- 
sens,  philbeardes,  and  al  |  both  gret  &  smal,  |  whatsouer  thei 
maye  se,  |  to  fede  the  pore  commenalte ;  |  salmon  and  hear- 
ing; |  this  is  a  shamefull  thing;  |  tench,  ele  or  conger;  |  this 
shall  kepe  vs  vnder,  |  and  make  vs  die  for  hunger;  |  flounders, 
floucke,  plaice  or  carpe;  |  here  is  a  miserable  warke  |  that 
Englande  must  abide  |  to  maintaine  Spanishe  pride,"  &c. 
Sig.  F  ii. 


CXXXvi          EXAMPLES    OF    THE    METRE 


From  Doctaur  Doubble  Ale, — 12mo,  without  printer's  name  or 
date. 

"  Although  I  lacke  intelligence, 
And  can  not  skyll  of  eloquence, 
Yet  wyll  I  do  my  diligence 
To  say  sumtLing  or  1  go  hence, 
Wherein  I  may  demonstrate 
The  figure,  gesture,  and  estate 
Of  one  that  is  a  curate, 
That  harde  is  and  endnrate, 
And  ernest  in  the  cause 
Of  piuish  popish  lawes, 
That  are  not  worth  two  strawes, 
Except  it  be  with  dawes, 
That  knoweth  not  good  from  euels, 
Nor  Gods  worde  from  the  deuels, 
Nor  wyll  in  no  wise  heare 
The  worde  of  God  so  cleare, 
But  popishnes  vpreare, 
And  make  the  pope  Gods  peare. 


Now  let  vs  go  about 
To  tell  the  tale  out 
Of  this  good  felow  stout, 
That  for  no  man  wyll  dout, 
But  kepe  his  olde  condicions 
For  all  the  newe  comyssions, 
And  vse  his  supersticions, 
And  also  mens  tradycions, 
And  syng  for  dead  folkes  soules, 
And  reade  hys  beaderolles, 
And  all  such  thinges  wyll  vse 
As  honest  men  refuse : 
But  take  hym  for  a  cruse, 
And  ye  wyll  tell  me  newes; 
For  if  he  ons  begyn, 
He  leaueth  nought  therin; 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL. 

He  careth  not  a  pyn 

How  much  ther  be  wythin, 

So  he  the  pot  may  wyn, 

He  wyll  it  make  full  thyn ; 

And  wher  the  drinke  doth  please 

There  wyll  he  take  his  ease, 

And  driuke  therof  his  fyll, 

Tyll  ruddy  be  his  byll; 

And  fyll  both  cup  and  can, 

Who  is  so  glad  a  man 

As  is  our  curate  than  ? 

I  wolde  ye  knewe  it,  a  curate 

Not  far  without  Newgate ; 

Of  a  parysh  large 

The  man  hath  mikle  charge, 

And  none  within  this  border 

That  kepeth  such  order, 

Nor  one  a  this  syde  Nauerne 

Louyth  better  the  ale  tauerne : 

But  if  the  drinke  be  small, 

He  may  not  well  withall ; 

Tush,  cast  it  on  the  wall! 

Itfrettethouthisgall; 

Then  seke  an  other  house, 

This  is  not  worth  a  louse, 

As  dronken  as  a  mouse, 

Monsyre  yybei  a  vous  ! 

And  ther  wyll  byb  and  bouse, 

Tyll  heuy  be  his  brouse. 

Thus  may  ye  beholde 
This  man  is  very  bolde, 
And  in  his  learning  olde 
Intendeth  for  to  syt: 
I  blame  hym  not  a  whyt, 
For  it  wolde  vexe  his  wyt, 
And  cleane  agaynst  his  earning, 
To  folow  such  learning 


CXXXV111       EXAMPLES    OF    THE    METRE 

As  now  a  daycs  is  taught; 
It  wolde  sone  bryng  to  naught 
His  olde  popish  brayne, 
For  then  he  must  agayne 
Apply  hym  to  the  schole, 
And  come  away  a  fole, 
For  nothing  shulde  he  get, 
His  braytie  hath  bene  to  het 
And  with  good  ale  so  wet; 
Wherefore  he  may  uow  set 
In  feldes  and  in  medes, 
And  pray  vpon  his  beades, 
For  yet  he  hath  a  payre 
Of  beades  that  be  right  fayre, 
Of  corall,  gete,  or  ambre, 
At  home  within  his  chambre ; 
For  in  matins  or  masse 
Primar  and  portas, 
And  pottes  and  beades, 
Hislyfeheleades: 
But  this  I  wota, 
That  if  ye  nota 
How  this  idiota 
Doth  folow  the  pota, 
I  holde  you  a  grota 
Ye  wyll  rede  by  rota 
That  he  may  were  u  cota 
In  Cocke  Lorels  1  bota. 
Thus  the  durty  doctour, 
The  popes  oune  proctour, 
Wyll  bragge  and  boost 
Wyth  ale  and  a  toost, 
And  lyke  a  rutter 
Hys  Latin  wyll  vtter, 
And  turne  and  tosse  hym, 
Wyth  lu  non  possum 


Lorels]  Old  ed.  "  losels." 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL. 

Loquere  Lalinum; 

This  alumfinum 

Is  bonus  then  vinum  ; 

Ego  volo  quare 

Cum  tu  drinkare 

Pro  tuum  capul, 

Quia  apud 

Te  propiciacio, 

Tu  non  potes  facio 

Tut  (foam  ego ; 

Qiuam  librum  tu  lego, 

Caue  de  me 

Appanere  te : 

Juro  per  Deum 

Hoc  est  lifum  meum, 

Quia  drinkum  staluin 

Nonfacere  malum. 

Thus  our  dominus  dodkin 

Wyth  ita  vera  bodkin 

Doth  leade  his  lyfe, 

Which  to  the  ale  wife 

Is  very  profitable : 

It  is  pytie  he  is  not  able 

To  mayntayne  a  table 

For  beggers  and  tinkers 

And  all  lusty  drinkers, 

Or  captayne  or  beddle 

Wyth  dronkardes  to  meddle. 

Ye  cannot,  I  am  sure, 

For  keping  of  a  cure 

Fynde  such  a  one  well, 

If  ye  shulde  rake  hell: 

And  therefore  nowe 

No  more  to  you, 

Sed  perlegas  isia, 

Si  veils,  papista ; 

Farewell  and  adewe, 

With  a  whirlary  whewe, 


EXAMPLES    OF    THE    METRE 

And  a  tirlary  typpe ; 
Beware  of  the  whyppe." 


From  A  Commemoration  or  Dirige  of  Bastarde  Edmonde  Boner, 
alias  Sauage,  vsurped  Bisslioppe  of  tendon.  Compiled  by  Le- 
meke  Auale.  Ejnscopalum  eius  «ct  ijritt  alter.  Anno  Domini. 
1569.  Imprinted  by  P.  0.  8vo.  (a  tract,  chiefly  in  verse 
and  of  various  metres:  see  Notes,  vol.  iii.  47. ) 

"  The  f fie  lesson. 
Homo  natus. 

"  Homo  natus 
Came  to  heauen  gatus. 
Sir,  you  do  come  to  latus, 
With  your  shorne  patus : 
Frequentiafalsa  £uangflii, 
For  the  loue  of  your  bealie, 
Cum  auro  <f  argento, 
You  loued  the  rules  of  Lento, 
Whiche  the  Pope  did  inuento: 
You  are  spurius  de  muliere, 
Not  legittimate  nor  lawful  here: 
0  quam  l  venenosa  pestis. 
Fur,  periurus,  lutro,  mechus, 
Homicidis2  tantuni  decus  ! 
De  salute  animarum, 

Of  Christes  flocke  thou  hadest  small  carum : 
Thou  art  Jilius  jwpuli  : 
Go,  go  to  Constanlinopoli, 
To  your  maister  the  Turke ; 
There  shall  you  lurke 


i  0  quam,  (fc.]  A  line  which  ought  to  have  rhymed  with 
this  one  is  wanting. 
*  Homicidis]  Old  ed.  "  Homicidus." 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL.  Cxli 

Emong  the  heathen  soules. 

Somtyme  your  shonie  brethren  of  Poules 

Were  as  blacke  as  monies, 

With  their  cappes  fower  forked, 

Their  shoes  warme  corked; 

Nosed  like  redde  grapes, 

Constant  as  she  apes, 

In  nature  like  blacke  monkes, 

And  shoote  in  sparowes  trunkes, 

And  boule  when  thei  haue  dinde, 

And  kepe  them  from  the  winde ; 

And  thei  whiche  are  not  able 

Doe  sitte  still  at  the  table, 

With  colour  scarlet  pale, 

So  small  is  their  good  ale: 

Thus  from  God  thei  did  tourne, 

Long  before  their  church  did  burne. 

Theii  when  riche  men  wer  sicke, 

Either  dedde  or  quicke, 

Valde  diliyenier  nolant 

Vbi  diuites  eyrolant ; 
Ibl  currunt,  nee  cessabunt 
Donee  ipsos  tuinilabunl ; 

Oues  alienas  tondunt, 

L'tperoihius  conj'undunt. 

These  felowes  pilde  as  ganders, 

Muche  like  the  friers  of  Flanders, 

Whiche  serue  Sathan  about  the  cloisters, 

Thei  loue  red  wine  and  oisters. 

Qui  vult  Satanas  seruire, 

Claustnim  debel  inlroire, 

And  euer  haue  suclie  an  hedde 

As  bastarde  Boner  that  is  dedde. 

He  would  for  the  Pope  take  pain ; 

Therfore  help,  you  friers  of  Spain, 

You  enquisiters,  take  paine: 

It  is  a  greate  maino 

Vnto  the  Pope,  your  hedde, 

That  Bouer  is  thus  dedde, 


EXAMPLES    OF    THE    METRE 

And  buried  in  a  misers  graue, 

Like  a  common  k[uaue]. 

Lo,  lo,  now  is  he  dedde, 

That  was  so  well  fedde, 

And  had  a  softe  bedde ! 

Estate  forth  in  beUo, 

Good  Hard yng  and  thy  fellowe ; 

If  you  be  papistes  right, 

Come  steale  hym  awaie  by  night, 

And  put  hym  in  a  shrine ; 

He  was  the  Popes  deuine; 

Why,  shall  he  be  forgotten, 

And  lye  still  and  rotten  ? 

Come  on,  and  doe  not  fainte ; 

Translate  with  spede  your  sainct, 

And  put  hym  in  a  tombe: 

His  harte  is  now  at  Rome. 

Come  forth,  you  loughtes  of  Ixraen, 

And  steale  awaie  this  slouen : 

You  are  so  full  of  ire, 

And  popishe  desire, 

And  Romishe  derision, 

And  hellishe  deuision, 

Therefore  I  am  sure 

Your  kyngdome  will  not  dure." 

Sig.  B  iiL 


"  Retponde. 

Ne  recorderis  peccata, 
But  open  heauen  gata, 
Sainct  Peter,  with  your  kaies ; 
Shewe  my  lorde  the  right  waies: 
He  dwelt  ones  at  Poules, 
And  had  cure  of  our  soules: 
1  wisse,  he  was  not  a  baste, 
But  holie,  meke,  and  chaste; 
It  is  a  greate  pitie 
That  he  is  gone  from  our  citie; 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL. 

A  man  of  greate  honor;. 
0  holy  sainct  Boner! 
You  blessed  friers 
That  neuer  wer  liers. 
And  you  holy  nunnes 
That  neuer  had  sonnes, 
Set  this  child  of  grace 
In  some  angelles  place." 

Sig.  B  viL 


A  SMtonkatt  Salutation, 
Or  condiyne  yralulation, 
And  lust  vexation 
Oftiie  Spanish  Nation, 
That  in  a  bravado, 
Spent  many  a  Ci'usado, 
In  setting  forth  an  Armado 
Enyland  to  inrado. 

Imprinted  at  London  for  Toby  Cooke.    1589,  4to. 

"  0  king  of  Spaine, 
Is  it  not  a  paine 
To  thy  heart  and  braine 
And  euery  vaine, 
To  see  thy  traine 
For  to  sustaine, 
Withouten  gaine, 
The  worlds  disdaiue, 
Which  doth  dispise 
As  toies  and  lies, 
With  shoutes  and  cries, 
Thy  enterprise, 
As  fitter  for  pies 
And  butter-flies, 
Theu  men  so  wise? 


EXAMPLES    OF    TI1E    METKE 

0  waspish  king, 
Wheres  now  thy  sting, 
Thy  dart  or  sling, 
Or  strong  bow-string, 
That  should  vs  wring, 
And  vnderbring, 
Who  euery  way 
Thee  vexe  and  pay, 
And  beare  the  sway 
By  night  and  day, 
To  thy  dismay, 
In  battle  aray, 
And  every  fray  ? 
0  puf  te  with  pride, 
What  foolish  guide 
Made  thee  provide 
To  over-ride 
This  land  so  wide 
From  side  to  side, 
And  then,  vntride, 
Away  to  slide, 
And  not  to  abide, 
But  all  in  a  ring 
Away  to  fling? 
0  conquering, 
0  vanquishing, 
With  fast  flying, 
And  no  replying, 
For  feare  of  frying! 

But  who  but  Philippus, 
That  seeketh  to  nip  vs, 
To  rob  vs,  and  strip  vs, 
And  then  for  to  whip  vs, 
Would  ever  haue  ment, 
Or  had  intent, 
Or  hither  sent 
Such  ships  of  charge, 
So  strong  and  so  large, 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL. 

Nay,  the  worst  barge, 

Trusting  to  treason, 

And  not  to  reason, 

Which  at  that  season 

To  him  was  geson, 

As  doth  appeare 

Both  plaine  and  cleare 

To  fur  and  neere, 

To  his  confusion, 

By  this  conclusion, 

Which  thus  is  framed. 

And  must  be  named 

Argumentum  a  minwe, 

Cum  liorrore  et  timore  ? 

If  one  Drake  o, 

One  poore  snake  o, 

Make  vs  shake  o, 

Tremble  and  quake  o, 

Were  it  not,  trow  yee, 

A  madnes  for  me 

To  vndertake 

A  warre  to  make 

With  such  a  lande, 

That  is  so  mande, 

Wherein  there  be 

Of  certaintie 

As  hungrie  as  he 

Many  a  thousand  more, 

That  long  full  sore 

For  Indian  golde, 

Which  makes  men  bolde?  "  &o. 


VOL.   I. 


EXAMPLES    OF    THE    METRE 


See  also — Jacke  of  the  N&rthe,  &c.  printed  (most  incor- 
rectly) from  C.C.C.  MS.  in  Hartshorne's  Anc.  Met.  Tales,  p. 
288. — A  recantation  of  famous  Pasyuin  of  Rome.  An.  1570. 
Imprinted  at  London  by  John  Daye,  8vo,  which  (known  to  me 
only  from  Brit.  Bibliog.  ii.  2fc9)  contains  Skeltonical  pas- 
sages.—  The  Riddles  of  Heraclitus  and  Democritus.  Printed  at 
London  by  Ann  HatfieU  for  John  Norton,  1598,  4to,  which 
(known  to  me  only  from  Restiluta,  i.  175)  has  Skeltonical 
rhymes  on  the  back  of  the  title-page. —  The  Wisdome  of  Doctor 
Dodypoll  As  it  hath  bene  sundrie  times  Acted  by  the  Children 
of  Powles,  1600,  4to,  which  has  some  Skeltonical  lines  at  sig. 
C  4.—  The  Downfall  of  Robert  Earle  of  Huntington,  &c.  (by 
Anthony  Munday,)  1601,  4to,  and  The  Death  of  Robert,  Earle 
of  Hvntington,  &c.  (by  Anthony  Munday  and  Henry  Chettle), 
1601,  4to,  (two  plays  already  noticed,  p.  cvi.),  in  which  are 
various  Skeltonical  passages. — Hobson's  Horse-load  of  Letters, 
or  a  President  for  Epistles.  The  First  Part,  1617,  4to,  which 
concludes  with  three  epistles  in  verse,  the  last  entitled  "  A 
merry-mad  Letter  in  SkeUons  rime,"  &c. — Poems:  By  Michael 
Drayton  Esqvire,  &c.,  n.d.,  folio,  which  contains,  at  p.  301,  a 
copy  of  verses  entitled  "  A  Skeltoniad." — The  Fortunate  Isles, 
&c.  1626,  a  masque  by  Ben  Jonson  (already  noticed,  p.  cvii.), 
in  which  are  imitations  of  Skelton's  style.— All  The  W&rkes 
of  John  Taylor  The  Water-poet,  &c.  1630,  folio,  which  con- 
tains, at  p.  245,  "  A  Skellonicall  salutation  to  those  that  know  how 
to  reade,  and  not  marre  the  sense  with  hacking  or  mis-construc- 
tion "  (printed  as  prose). — Hesperides :  or,  The  Works  Both 
Humane  $  Divine  of  Robert  Ihrrick  Esq.,  1648,  8vo,  among 
which,  at  pp.  10,  97,  268,  are  verses  in  Skelton's  favourite 
metre.—  The  Works  of  Mr.  John  Cleveland,  Containing  hit 
Poems,  Orations,  Epistles,  Collected  into  One  Volume,  1687,  8vo, 
in  which  may  be  found,  at  p.  306,  a  piece  of  disgusting  gross- 
ness  (suggested  by  Skelton's  Elynour  Rummynge),  entitled 
"  The  Old  Gill." 

A  poem  called  Philargyrie  of  yreate  Britayne,  1551,  printed 
(and  no  doubt  written)  by  Robert  Crowly,  has  been  frequently 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL. 

mentioned  as  a  "  Skeltonic  "  composition,  but  improperly,  as 
the  following  lines  will  shew ; 

"  Geue  eare  awhyle, 
And  marke  my  style, 
You  that  Imth  wyt  in  store; 
For  wyth  wordes  bare 
I  wyll  declare 
Thyngs  done  long  tyme  before. 

Sometyme  certayne 
Into  Britayne, 
A  lande  full  of  plentie, 
A  gyaunte  greate 
Came  to  seke  meate, 
Whose  name  was  Philargyrie,"  &c. 

"  See  also,"  says  Warton  (Hist,  of  E.  P.  ii.  358,  note,  ed.  4to), 
"  a  doggrel  piece  of  this  kind,  in  imitation  of  Skelton,  intro- 
duced into  Browne's  Sheperd's  Pipe," — a  mistake;  for  the 
poem  of  Hoccleve  (inserted  in  Egloyue  i.),  to  which  Warton 
evidently  alludes,  is  neither  doggrel  nor  in  Skelton' s  manner. 


POEMS     OF     SKELTON. 


OF  THE  DEATH 

OF  THE  NOBLE  PRINCE,   KYNGE  EDWARDE  THE  FORTH, 
PEE  SKELTONIDEM   LAUREATUM.* 

Miseremini  mei,  ye  that  be  my  frendis  ! 

This  world  hath  formed  me  downe  to  fall : 
How  may  I  endure,  when  that  eueri  thyng  endis  ? 

What  creature  is  borne  to  be  eternall  ? 


*  From  the  ed.  by  Kynge  and  Marche  of  Certaine  bakes 
compyled  by  Muysler  Skellon,  n.  d.— collated  with  the  same 
work,  ed.  Day,  n.  d.,  and  ed.  Lant,  n.  d. ;  with  Marshe's  ed. 
of  Skelton's  Workes,  1568;  occasionally  with  the  Mrraurfor 
Afaffistrales,  1587  (in  the  earlier  eds.  of  which  the  poem  was 
incorporated,)  and  with  a  contemporary  MS.  in  the  possession 
of  Miss  Richardson  Currer,  which  last  has  furnished  a  stanza 
hitherto  unprinted. 


4  OF   THE    DEATH    OF 

Now  there  is  no  more  but  pray  for  me  all : 
Thus  say  I  Edward,  that  late  was  youre  kyngc, 

And  twenty  two  yeres  ruled  this  imperyall, 
Some  vnto  pleasure,  and  some  to  no  lykynge  : 
Mercy  I  aske  of  my  mysdoynge ; 

What  auayleth  it,  frendes,  to  be  my  foo,  10 

Sith  I  can  not  resyst,  nor  amend  your   com- 
plaining? 

Quia,  ecce,  nunc  in  pulvere  dormio  ! 

I  slepe  now  in  molde,  as  it  is  naturall  /\ 
That  erth  vnto  erth  hath  his  reuerture:J3 

What  ordeyned  God  to  be  terestryall.A 
Without  recours  to  the  erth  of  nature  ?  $ 
Who  to  lyue  euer  may  himselfe  assure  ?P 

What  is  it  to  trust  on  mutabilyte^L 

Sith  that  in  this  world  nothing  may  indure  8 

For  now  am  I  gone,  that  late  was  in  prosperyte  :C«> 

To  presume  thervppon,  it  is  but  a  vanyte,-C 

Not  certayne,  but  as  a  cheryfayre,  full  of  wo  :£) 

Reygned  not  I  of  late  in  greate  felycite  ?  C 
Et,  ecce,  nunc  in  pulvere  dormio  !  £> 

Where  was  in  my  lyfe  such  one  as  I, 

Whyle  lady  Fortune   with  me  had  continu- 

aunce  ? 
Graunteu  not  she  me  to  haue  victory, 

In    England    to   rayne,   and   to    contribute 

Fraunce  ? 
She  toke  me  by  the  hand  and  led  me  a  daunce, 


KYNGE    EDWARDE    THE    FORTH.  5 

And  with  her  sugred  lyppes  on  me  she  smyled  ;  w 
But,  what  for  her  dissembled  countenaunce, 

I  coud  not  beware  tyl  I  was  begyled  : 

Now  from  this  world  she  hath  me  excyled, 
When  I  was  lothyst  hens  for  to  go, 

And  I  am  in  age  but,  as  who  sayth,  a  chylde, 
JEt,  ecce,  mine  in  pulvere  dormio  ! 

I  se  wyll,*  they  leve  that  doble  my  }eris : 
This  dealid  this  world  with  me  as  it  lyst, 

And  hat  he  me  made,  to  }ow  that  be  my  perys, 
Example  to  thynke  on  Had  I  wyst :  « 

I  storyd  my  cofers  and  allso  my  chest 

With  taskys  takynge  of  the  comenalte ; 

I  toke  ther  tresure,  but  of  ther  pray^eris  mist ; 

Whom  I  beseche  with  pure  humylyte 

For  to  forgeve  and  have  on  me  pety  ; 

I  was  }our  kynge.  and  kept  }ow  from  }owr  foo  : 

I  wold  now  amend,  but  that  wull  not  be, 
[  Quiet,]  ecce,  nunc  in  pulvere  dormio  ! 

I  had  ynough,  I  held  me  not  content, 

Without  remembraunce  that  I  should  dye  ;     so 

And  more  euer  to  incroche  redy  was  I  bent, 
I  knew  not  how  longe  I  should  it  occupy  : 
I  made  the  Tower  stronge,  I  wyst  not  why ; 

I  knew  not  to  whom  I  purchased  Tetersall ; 
I  amendid  Douer  on  the  mountayne  hye, 

*  Ise  wyll,  &c.]  This  stanza  only  found  in  MS. 


6  OF    THE    DEATH    OF 

And  London  I  prouoked  to  fortify  the  wall ; 
I  made  Notingam  a  place  full  royall, 

Wyndsore,  Eltam,  and  many  other  mo : 
Yet  at  the  last  I  went  from  them  all, 

Et,  ecce,  nunc  in  pulvere  dormio  !  «> 

Where  is  now  my  conquest  and  victory  ? 

Where  is  my  riches  and  my  royal  aray  ? 
Wher  he  my  coursers  and  my  horses  hye  ? 

Where  is  my  myrth,  my  solas,  and  my  play  ? 

As  vanyte,  to  nought  al  is  wandred  away. 
O  lady  Bes,  longe  for  me  may  ye  call  I 

For  I  am  departed  tyl  domis  day  ; 
But  loue  ye  that  Lorde  that  is  soueraygne  of  all. 
Where  be  my  castels  and  buyldynges  royall  ? 

But  Windsore  alone,  now  I  haue  no  mo,  70 
And  of  Eton  the  prayers  perpetual!, 

JEt,  ecce,  nunc  in  pulvere  dormio  ! 

Why  should  a  man  be  proude  or  presume  hye  ? 

Sainct  Bernard  therof  nobly  doth  trete, 
Seyth  a  man  is  but  a  sacke  of  stercorry, 

And  shall  returne  vnto  wormis  mete. 

Why,  what  cam  of  Alexander  the  greate  ? 
Or  els  of  stronge  Sampson,  who  can  tell  ? 

Were  not  wormes  ordeyned  theyr  flesh  to  frete  ? 
And  of  Salomon,  that  was  of  wyt  the  well  ?  » 
Absolon  profferyd  his  heare  for  to  sell, 

Yet  for  al  his  bewte  wormys  ete  him  also ; 
And  I  but  late  in  honour  dyd  excel, 

Et,  ecce,  nunc  in  pulvere  dormio  ! 


KYNGE    EDWARDE    THK    FORTH.  7 

I  haue  played  my  pageyond,  now  am  I  past ; 

Ye  wot  well  all  I  was  of  no  great  yeld : 
This  al  thing  concluded  shalbe  at  the  last, 

When  death  approchyth,  then  lost  is  the  felde : 

Then  sythen  this  world  me  no  longer  vphelde, 
Nor  nought  would  conserue  me  here  in  my  place,  x 

In  manus  tuas,  JDomine,  my  spirite  vp  I  yelde, 
Humbly  beseching  the",  God,  of  thy  grace  ! 
O  ye  curtes  commyns,  your  hertis  vnbrace 

Benyngly  now  to  pray  for  me  also  ; 
For  ryght  wel  you  know  your  kyng  I  was, 

JEt,  ecce,  nunc  in  pulvere  dormio  ! 


UPON    THE    DETHE    OF 


FOETA    SKELTON 
LAUREATUS   LIBELLUM   SUTJM   METEICE  ALLOQUITUR.* 

Ad  dominum  proper ato  meum,  meapagina,  Percy, 

Qui  Nor thumbrorum  jura  paterna  gerit ; 
Ad  nutum  Celebris  tu  prona  repone  leonis 

Quceque  suo  patri  tristia  justa  cano. 
Ast  ubi  perlegit,  dubiam  sub  mente  volutet 

Fortunam,  cuncta  qua  malefida  rotat. 
Qui  leo  sit  felix,  et  Nestoris  occupet  annos  ; 

Ad  libitum  cujus  ipse  paratus  era. 

SKELTON  LAUREAT 

VPON  THB 

DOULOUR[U]S  DETHE  AND  MUCHE  LAMENTABLE  CHAUNCE 
OF  THE  MOST  HONORABLE  F.RLE  OF  NORTHUMBERLANDE. 

I  WAYLE,  I  wepe,  I  sobbe,  I  sigh  ful  sore/. 

The  dedely  fate,  the  dolefulle  destenyB 
Of  hym  that  is  gone,  alas,  without  restore, 

Of  the  bloud  royall  descending  nobelly  ; 

*  From  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Workes,  1568,  collated 
with  a  copy  of  the  poem  in  a  MS.  vol.  now  in  the  British 
Museum  (MS.  Reg.  18.  D  ii  fol.  165,)  which  formerly  belonged 
to  the  fifth  Earl  of  Northumberland,  son  of  the  nobleman 
whose  fate  is  here  lamented:  vide  Account  of  Skelton,  &c. 
This  elegy  was  printed  by  Percy  in  his  Rdiques  of  An.  Engl. 
Poet.  (i.  95,  ed.  1794,)  from  the  MS.  just  mentioned. 


THE    ERLE    OF    NORTHTJMBERLANDE.  9 

Whose  lordshyp  doutles  was  slayne  lamentably 
Thorow  treson,  again  him  compassed  and  wrought, 
Trew  to  his  prince  in  word,  in  dede,  and  thought. 

Of  heuenly  poems,  O  Clyo,  calde  by  name 
In  the  colege  of  Musis  goddes  hystoriall, 

Adres  the  to  me,  whiche  am  both  halt  and  lame  "> 
In  elect  vteraunce  to  make  memoryall ! 
To  the  for  souccour,  to  the  for  helpe  I  call, 

Mine  homely  rudnes  and  dryghnes  to  expell 

With  the  freshe  waters  of  Elyconys  well. 

Of  noble  actes  aunciently  enrolde 

Of  famous  pryncis  and  lordes  of  astate, 

By  thy  report  ar  wont  to  be  extold, 

Regestringe  trewly  euery  formare  date ; 
Of  thy  bountie  after  the  vsuall  rate 

Kyndell  in  me  suche  plenty  of  thy  nobles,  a> 

These  sorowfulle  dites  that  I  may  shew  expres. 

In  sesons  past,  who  hath  herde  or  sene 
Of  formar  writyng  by  any  presidente 

That  vilane  hastarddis  in  their  furious  tene, 
Fulfylled  with  malice  of  froward  entente, 
Confetered  togeder  of  commonn  concente 

Falsly  to  slee  theyr  moste  singuler  good  lord  ? 

It  may  be  regestrede  of  shamefull  recorde. 

So  noble  a  man,  so  valiaunt  lord  and  knyght, 
Fulfilled  with  honor,  as  all  the  world  doth  ken ;  so 


10  UPON    THE    DETHE    OF 

At  his  commaundement  which  had  both  day  and 

nyght 

Knyghtes  and  squyers,  at  euery  season  when 
He  calde  vpon  them,  as  meniall  housholdmen  ; 
Were  not  these  commons  vncurteis  karlis  of  kind 
To  slo  their  owne  lord  ?  God  was  not  in  their 
mynd. 

And  were  not  they  to  blame,  I  say,  also, 

That  were  aboute  him,  his  owne  seruants  of 

trust, 
To  suffre  him  slayn  of  his  mortall  fo  ? 

Fled  dway  from  hym,  let  hym  ly  in  the  dust ; 
They  bode  not  till  the  reckenyng  were  discust ;  « 
What  shuld  I  flatter?    what  shuld  I  glose  or 

paint  ? 
Fy,  fy  for  shame,  their  hartes  were  to  faint. 

In  England  and  Fraunce  which  gretly  was  re- 

douted, 
Of  whom  both  Flaunders  and  Scotland  stode 

in  drede, 
To  whom  great  estates  obeyed  and  lowted, 

A  mayny  of  rude  villayns  made  hym  for  to 

blede ; 
Unkyndly  they  slew  him,  that  holp  them  oft  at 

nede : 

He  was  their  bulwark,  their  paues,  and  their  wall, 
Yet  shamfully  they  slew  hym ;  that  shame  mot 
them  befal ! 


THE    ERLE    OF    NOKTHUMBERLANDE.          11 

I  say,  ye  comoners,  why  wer  ye  so  stark  mad  ?  « 
What  frantyk  frensy  fyll  in  your  brayne  ? 

Where  was  your  wit  and  reson  ye   should  haue 

had? 

What  wilful  foly  made  yow  to  ryse  agayne 
Your  naturall  lord  ?  alas,  I  can  not  fayne  : 

Ye  arinyd  you  with  will,  and  left  your  wit  behynd  ; 

Well  may  ye1  be  called  comones  most  vnkynd. 

He  was  your  chefteyne,  your  shelde,  your  chef 

defence, 
Redy  to  assyst  you  in  euery  time  of  nede  ; 

Your  worshyp  depended  of  his  excellence : 
Alas,  ye  mad  men,  to  far  ye  did  excede ;         w 
Your  hap  was  vnhappy,  to  ill  was  your  spede  : 

What  moued  you  againe  him  to  war  or  to  fyght  ? 

What  alyde  you  to  sle  your  lord  again  all  ryght  ? 

The  ground  of  his  quarel  was  for  his  souerain 

lord, 

The  well  concerning  of  all  the  hole  lande, 
Demandyng  suche  duties  as  nedes  most  acord 
To  the  ryght  of  his  prince,  which  shold  not  be 

withstand ; 
For  whose  cause  ye  slew  him  with  your  owne 

hand : 

But  had  his  noble  men  done  wel  that  day, 
Ye  had  not  bene  able  to  haue  sayd  hym  nay.      n 

1  ye]  So  us.  Dyce,  "you."    C. 


12  UPON    THE   DETHE    OP 

But  ther  uas  f'als  packing,  or  els  I  am  begylde  ; 
How  be  it  the  mater  was  euydent  and  playne, 
For  if  they  had  occupied  their  spere  and  their 

shilde, 

This  noble  man  doutles  had  not  bene  slayne. 
But  men  say  they   wer  lynked  with  a  double 

chaine, 

And  held  with  the  comones  vnder  a  cloke, 
Which  kindeled  the  wild  fyr  that  made  al  this 
smoke. 

The  commons  renyed  ther  taxes  to  pay, 

Of  them  demaunded  and  asked  by  the  kynge  ; 

With  one  voice  importune  they  plainly  sayd  nay ;  « 

They  buskt  them  on  a  bushment  themselfe  in 

baile  to  bring, 
Againe  the  kyngs  plesure  to  wrestle  or  to 

wring ; 

Bluntly  as  bestis  with  boste  and  with  crye 
They  sayd  they  forsed  not,  nor  carede  not  to  dy. 

The  nobelnes  of  the  north,  this  valiant  lord  and 

knight, 

As  man  that  was  innocent  of  trechery  or  traine, 
Presed  forth  boldly  to  withstand  the  myght, 
And,   lyke   marciall   Hector,  he  faught    them 
agayne,  [maine, 

Vygorously  vpon  them  with  might  and  with 
Trustyng  in  noble  men  that  were  with  him  there ;  » 
But  al  they  fled  from  hym  for  falshode  or  fere. 


THK    ERLE    OF   NORTHUMBERLANDE.          13 

Barones,  knyghtes,  squiers,  one  and  all, 
Together  with  seruauntes  of  his  famuly, 

Turned  their  backis,  and  let  their  master  fal, 
Of  whos  [life]  they  counted  not  a  flye  ; 
Take  vp  whose  wold,  for  ther  they  let  him  ly. 

Alas,  his  gold,  his  fee,  his  annual  rent 

Upon  suche  a  sort  was  ille  bestowd  and  spent ! 

He  was  enuirond  aboute  on  euery  syde  aa 

With  his  enemyes,  that  wer  starke  mad  and 

wode ; 
Yet    while    he  stode    he   gaue   them    woundes 

wyde : 
Alias  for  ruth !  what  thoughe  his  mynd  wer 

gode, 

His  corage  manly,  yet  fther  he  shed  his  blode  : 
Al  left  alone,  alas,  he  foughte  in  vayne  ! 
For  cruelly  among  them  ther  he  was  slayne. 

Alas  for  pite  !  that  Percy  thus  was  spylt, 
The  famous  Erie  of  Northumberland  ; 

Of  knyghtly  prowes  the  sword,  pomel,  and  hylt, 
The  myghty  lyon  doutted  by  se  and  lande  ; 
O  doloruschaunce  of  Fortunes  froward  hande!  no 

What  man,  remembryng  howe  sharnfully  he  was 
slaine, 

From  bitter  weping  himself  can  restrain  ? 

0  cruell  Mars,  thou  dedly  god  of  war ! 

O  dolorous  tewisday,  dedicate  to  thy  name, 


14  UPON    THE    DETHE    OP 

When  thou   shoke   thy   sworde  so  noble  a  man 

to  mar ! 

O  ground  vngracious,  vnhappy  be  thy  fame, 
Which  wert  endyed  with  rede  bloud  of  the 

same 

Most  noble  erle  !  0  foule  mysuryd  ground, 
Whereon  he  gat  his  finall  dedely  wounde  ! 

0  Atropos,  of  the  fatall  systers  iii  120 

Goddes  most  cruel  vnto  the  lyfe  of  man, 

All  merciles,  in  the  is  no  pite ! 

O  homicide,  which  sleest  all  that  thou  can, 
So  forcibly -vpon  this  erle  thou  ran, 

That  with  thy  sword,  enharpit  of  mortall  drede, 

Thou  kit  asonder  his  perfight  vitall  threde ! 

My  wordes  vnpullysht  be,  nakide  and  playne, 

Of  aureat  poems  they  want  ellumynynge  ; 
But  by  them  to  knowlege  ye  may  attayne 

Of  this  lordes  dethe  and  of  his  murdrynge  ;  'so 
Which   whils  he  lyued  had  fuyson  of  euery 

thing, 
Of  knights,  of  squyers,  chyf  lord  of  toure   and 

towne, 
Tyl  fykkell  Fortune  began  on  hym  to  frowne: 

Paregall  to  dukes,  with  kynges  he  might  compare, 
Surmountinge  in  honor  al  erlis  he  did  excede ; 

To  all  countreis  aboute  hym  reporte  me  I  dare  ; 
Lyke  to  Eneas  benigne  in  worde  and  dede, 


THE    ERLE    OP   NORTHUMBERLANDE.          15 

Valiant  as  Hector  in  euery  marciall  nede, 
Prouydent,  discrete,  circumspect,  and  wyse, 
Tyll  the  chaunce  ran  agayne  hym  of  Fortunes  "o 
duble  dyse. 

What  nedeth  me  for  to  extoll  his  fame 

With  my  rude  pen  enkankered  all  with  rust, 
Whose  noble  actes  show  worshiply  his  name, 
Transendyng   far   myne    homly   Muse,   that 

muste 
Yet   somwhat   wright   supprised    with   herty 

lust, 

Truly  reportyng  his  right  noble  estate, 
Immortally  whiche  is  immaculate  ? 

His  noble  blode  neuer  destayned  was, 

Trew  to  his  prince  for  to  defend  his  ryght, 

Doblenes  hatyng  fals  maters  to  compas,  iso 

Treytory  and  treason  he  banysht  out  of  syght, 
With  truth  to  medle  was  al  his  holl  delyght, 

As  all  his  countrey  can  testyfy  the  same : 

To  sle  suche  a  lorde,  alas,  it  was  great  shame  ! 

If  the  hole  quere  of  the  Musis  nyne 
In  me  all  onely  wer  set  and  comprysed, 

Enbrethed  with  the  blast  of  influence  deuyne, 
As  perfytly  as  could  be  thought  or  deuised ; 
To  me  also  allthough  it  were  promised 

Of  laureat  Phebus  holy  the  eloquence,  i« 

All  were  to  lytell  for  his  magnificence. 


16  UPON    THE    DETHE    OF 

0  yonge  lyon,  but  tender  yet  of  age, 

Grow  and  encrese,  remembre  thyn  estate  ; 
God  the  assyst  unto  thyn  herytage, 

And  geue  the  grace  to  be  more  fortunate  ! 

Agayn  rebellyones  arme  the  to  make  debate ; 
And,  as  the  lyone,  whiche  is  of  bestes  kynge, 
Unto  thy  subiectes  be  curteis  and  benygne. 

1  pray  God  sende  the  prosperous  lyfe  and  long, 

Stable  thy  mynde  constant  to  be  and  fast,       no 
Ryght  to  mayntayn,  and  to  resyst  all  wronge  : 
All   flateryng  faytors   abhor  and  from  the 

cast; 
Of  foule  detraction   God  kepe  the  from  the 

blast! 

Let  double  delyng  in  the"  haue  no  place, 
And  be  not  lyght  of  credence  in  no  case. 

With  heuy  chere,  with  dolorous  hart  and  mynd, 
Eche  man  may  sorow  in  his  inward  thought 
This  lordes  death,  whose  pere  is  hard  to  fynd, 
Algife   Englond  and  Fraunce   were   thorow 

saught. 
Al  kynges,  all  princes,  al  dukes,  well  they  iso 

ought, 

Both  temporall  and  spiritual,  for  to  complayne 
This  noble  man,  that  crewelly  was  slayne  : 

More  specially  barons,  and  those  knygtes  bold, 
And  al  other  gentilmen  with  him  enterteyned 


THE    ERLE    OF    NORTHUMBERLANDE.          17 

In  fee,  as  menyall  men  of  his  housold, 
Whom  he  as  lord  worshyply  mainteyned  ; 
To  sorowful  weping  they  ought  to  be   con- 

streined, 

As  oft  as  they  call  to  theyr  remembraunce 
Of  ther  good  lord  the  fate  and  dedely  chaunce. 

O  perlese  Prince  of  heuen  emperyall !  190 

That  with  one  word  formed  al  thing  of  noughte  ; 
Heuen,  hell,  and  erthe  obey  unto  thy  call ; 
Which  to   thy  resemblaunce  wondersly  hast 

wrought 
All    mankynd,    whom    thou    full   dere   hast 

bought, 

With  thy  bloud  precious  our  finaunce  thou  did  pay, 
And  vs  redemed  from  the  fendys  pray ; 

To  the  pray  we,  as  Prince  incomparable, 
As  thou  art  of  mercy  and  pyte  the  well, 

Thou  bring  unto  thy  joye  eterminable 

The  soull  of  this  lorde  from  alldaungerof  hell,  2« 
In  endles  blys  with  the*  to  byde  and  dwell 

In  thy  palace  aboue  the  orient, 

Where  thou  art  Lord  and  God  omnipotent. 

O  quene  of  mercy,  0  lady  full  of  grace, 

Mayden  most  pure,  and  Goddes  moder  dere, 

To  sorowful  hartes  chef  comfort  and  solace, 
Of  all  women  O  flowre  withouten  pere ! 
Pray  to  thy  Son  aboue  the  sterris  clere, 
VOL.  i.  2 


18  UPON    THE    DETHE,    ETC. 

He  to  vouchesaf,  by  thy  mediacion, 

To  pardon  thyseruaunt,and  brynge  to  saluacion.  210 

In  joy  triumphaunt  the  heuenly  yerarchy, 
With  all  the  hole  sorte  of  that  glorious  place, 

His  soull  mot  receyue  into  theyr  company, 

Thorow  bounty  of  Hym  that  formed  all  solace ; 
"Wei  of  pite,  of  mercy,  and  of  grace, 

The  Father,  the  Sonn,  and  the  Holy  Ghost, 

In  Trinitate  one  God  of  myghtes  moste  ! 

Non  sapit,  humanis  qui  certam  ponere  rebus 
Spem  cupit :  est  hominum  raraque  ficta  fides. 

TETRASTICHON  SKELTON.  LAUREATI  AD  MAGISTECM  RUK- 
SHAW,  SACR.E  THEOLOGIZE  EGREGIUM  PROFESSOREM. 

Accipe  nunc  demum,  doctor  celeberrime  Rukshaw, 
Carmina,  de  calamo  qua  cecidere  meo  ; 

Et  quanquam  placidis  non  suntmodulata  camenis, 
Sunt  tamen  ex  nostro  pectore  prompta  pio. 

Vale  feliciter,  virorum  laudatissime. 


AGAYNSTE    A    COMELY    COYSTUOWNE.        19 


SKELTON  LAUREATE 

AGAYNSTE 

A  comely  coystrowne,  that  curyowsly  chawntyd, 
and  curryshly  cowntred,  and  madly  in  hys 
musykkys  mokkyshly  made  agaynste  the  ix  Musys 
of  polytyke  poems  and  poettys  matryculat.* 

OF  all  nacyons  vnder  the  heuyn, 

These  frantyke  foolys  I  hate  most  of  all ; 

For  though  they  stumble  in  the  synnys  seuyn, 
In  peuyshnes  yet  they  snapper  and  fall, 
Which  men  the  viii  dedly  syn  call. 

This  peuysh  proud,  thys  prendergest, 

When  he  is  well,  yet  can  he  not  rest. 

A  swete  suger  lofe  and  sowre  bayardys  bun 
Be  sumdele  lyke  in  forme  and  shap, 

The  one  for  a  duke,  the  other  for  dun,  i« 

A  maunchet  for  morell  theron  to  snap. 
Hys  hart  is  to  hy  to  haue  any  hap; 

But  for  in  his  gamut  carp  that  he  can, 

Lo,  Jak  wold  be  a  jentylman  ! 

*  This  poem,  and  the  three  pieces  which  follow  it,  are 
given  from  a  tract  of  four  leaves,  n.  d.,  and  without  printer's 
name  (but  evidently  from  the  press  of  Pynson,)  collated  with 
Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Workes,  1568. 


20        AGATNSTE    A    COMELY    COYSTKOWNE. 

Wyth,  Hey,  troly,  loly,  lo,  whip  here,  Jak, 

Alumbek  sodyldym  syllorym  ben  ! 
Curyowsly  he  can  both  counter  and  knak 

Of  Martyn  Swart  and  all  hys  mery  men. 

Lord,  how  Perkyn  is  proud  of  hys  pohen  ! 
But  ask  wher  he  fyndyth  among  hys  monacordys  » 
An  holy  water  clarke  a  ruler  of  lordys. 

He  can  not  fynd  it  in  rule  nor  in  space  : 
He  solfyth  to  haute,  hys  trybyll  is  to  hy ; 

He  braggyth  of  his  byrth,  that  borne  was  full  bace  ; 
Hys  musyk  withoute  mesure,  to   sharp  is  hys 

my; 
He  trymmyth  in  hys  tenor  to  counter  pyrdewy  ; 

His  dyscant  is  besy,  it  is  withoute  a  mene ; 

To  fat  is  hys  fantsy,  hys  wyt  is  to  lene. 

He  lumbryth  on  a  lewde  lewte,  Roty  bully  joyse, 
Rumbyll  downe,  tumbyll  downe,  hey  go,  now, 

now ! 
He  fumblyth  in  hys  fyngeryng  an   vgly  good 

noyse, 

It  semyth  the  sobbyng  of  an  old  sow  :  a* 

He  wold  be  made  moch  of,  and  he  wyst  how ; 
Wele  sped  in  spyndels  and  turnyng  of  tauellys  ; 
A  bungler,  a  brawler,  a  pyker  of  quarellys. 

Comely  he  clappyth  a  payre  of  clauycordys  ; 
He  whystelyth  so  swetely,  he  makyth   me   to 
swete ; 


AGAYNSTE    A    COMELY    COYSTHOWNE.        21 

His  descant  is  dasshed  full  of  dyscordes  ; 
A  red  angry  man,  but  easy  to  intrete : 
An  vssher  of  the  hall  fayn  wold  I  get,  « 

To  poynte  this  proude  page  a  place  and  a  rome, 
For  Jak  wold  be  a  jentylman,  that  late  was  agrome. 

Jak  wold  jet,  and  yet  Jyll  sayd  nay  ;     [the  best : 
He  counteth  in  his  countenaunce  to  checke  with 

A  malaperte  medler  that  pryeth  for  his  pray, 
In  a  dysh  dare  he  rush  at  the  rypest ; 
Dremyng  in  dumpys  to  wrangyll  and  to  wrest : 

He  fyndeth  a  proporcyon  in  his  prycke  songe, 

To  drynk  at  a  draught  a  larg  and  a  long. 

Nay,  iape  not  with  hym,  he  is  no  small  fole,       so 
It  is  a  solemnpne  syre  and  a  solayne ; 

For  lordes  and  ladyes  lerne  at  his  scole  ; 

He  techyth  them  so  wysely  to  solf  and  to  fayne, 
That  neyther  they  synge  wel  prycke  songe  nor 

playne : 

Thys  docter  Deuyas  commensyd  in  a  cart, 
A  master,  a  mynstrell,  a  fydler,  a  farte. 

What  though  ye  can  cownter  Custodi  nos  ? 
As  well  it  becomyth  yow,  a  parysh  towne  clarke, 

To  syng  Sospitati  dedit  cegros : 

Yet  bere  ye  not  to  bold,  to  braule  ne  to  bark  « 
At  me,  that  medeled  nothyng  with  youre  wark  : 

Correct  fyrst  thy  self;  walk,  and  be  nought ! 

Deme  what  thou  lyst,  thou  knowyst  not  my  thought. 


22    CONTRA    CANTITANTEM   ASINDM    8ARCASMOS. 

A  prouerbe  of  old,  say  well  or  be  styll : 
Ye  are  to  vnhappy  occasyons  to  t'ynde 

Vppon  me  to  clater,  or  els  to  say  yll. 

Now  haue  I  shewyd  you   part  of  your  proud 

mynde ; 
Take  thys  in  worth,  the  best  is  behynde. 

Wryten  at  Croydon  by  Crowland  in  the  Clay, 

On  Candelmas  euyn,  the  Kalendas  of  May.         70 


CONTRA  ALIUM   CANTITANTEM   ET    OEGANISANTEM    ASINUM, 
QUI  IMPUGNABAT   SKELTONIDA  PIEKIUM,   SARCASMOS. 

Prceponenda  meis  non  sunt  tua  plectra  camenis, 

Nee  quantum  nostra  fistula  clara  tua  est : 
Scepe  licet  lyricos  modularis  arundine  psalmos, 

Et  tremulos  calamis  concinis  ipse  modos  ; 
Quamvis  mille  tuus  digitus  dat  carmine  plausus, 

Nam  tua  quam  tua  vox  est  mage  docta  manus  ; 
Quamvis  cuncta  fads  tumida  sub  mente  superbus, 

Gratior  est  Phcebo  fistula  nostra  tamen. 
Ergo  tuum  studeas  animo  deponere  fastum, 

Et  violare  sacrum  desine,  stulte,  virum. 

Qd  Skelton,  laureat. 


VPPON    A   DEEDMANS    HED.  23 


SKELTON  LAUREAT, 

Vppon  a  deedmans  hed,  that  was  sent  to  Tiymfrom 
an  honorable  jentyllw oman  for  a  token,  deuysyd 
this  gostly  jnedytacyon  in  Englysh  couenable,  in 
sentence  comendable,  lamentable,  lacrymable,pro- 
fy table  for  the  soule. 

YOURE  vgly  tokyn 
My  mynd  hath  brokyn 
From  worldly  lust ; 
For  I  haue  dyscust 
"We  ar  but  dust, 
And  dy  we  must. 

It  is  generall 
To  be  mortall : 
I  haue  well  espyde 

No  man  may  hym  hyde  w 

From  Deth  holow  eyed, 
"With  synnews  wyderyd, 
With  bonys  shyderyd, 
With  hys  worme  etyn  maw, 
And  his  gastly  jaw 
Gaspyng  asyde, 
Nakyd  of  hyde, 
Neyther  flesh  nor  fell. 

Then,  by  my  councell, 
Loke  that  ye  spell  a> 

Well  thys  gospell : 


24  VPPON    A    DEEDMAXS    HED. 

For  wher  so  we  dwell 
Deth  wyll  us  qwell, 
And  with  us  mell. 

For  all  oure  pamperde  paunchys, 
Ther  may  no  f'raunchys, 
Nor  worldly  blys, 
Redeme  vs  from  this  : 
Oure  days  be  datyd, 
To  be  chekmatyd 
With  drawttys  of  deth, 
Stoppyng  oure  breth  ; 
Oure  eyen  synkyng, 
Oure  bodys  stynkyng, 
Oure  gummys  grynnyng, 
Oure  soulys  brynnyng. 
To  whom,  then,  shall  we  sew, 
For  to  haue  rescew, 
But  to  swete  Jesu, 
On  vs  then  for  to  rew  ? 

O  goodly  chyld 
Of  Mary  mylde, 
Then  be  oure  shylde  ! 
That  we  be  not  exyld 
To  the  dyne  dale 
Of  boteles  bale, 
Nor  to  the  lake 
Of  fendys  blake. 

But  graunt  vs  grace 
To  se  thy  face, 
And  to  purchace 


WOMANHOD,    WANTON,    YE    WANT.  25 

Thyne  heuenly  place, 
And  thy  palace, 
Full  of  solace, 
Aboue  the  sky, 
That  is  so  hy ; 
Eternally 
To  beholde  and  se 
The  Trynyte ! 

Amen.  «> 

Myrres  vous  y. 


WOMANHOD,  wanton,  ye  want ; 

Youre  medelyng,  mastres,  is  manerles  ; 

Plente  of  yll,of  goodnes  skant, 
Ye  rayll  at  ryot,  recheles : 
To  prayse  you  re  porte  it  is  nedeles  ; 

For  all  your  draffe  yet  and  youre  dreggys, 

As  well  borne  as  ye  full  oft  tyrae  beggys. 

Why  so  koy  and  full  of  skorne  ? 

Myne  horse  is  sold,  I  wene,  you  say ; 
My  new  furryd  gowne,  when  it  is  worne, 

Put  vp  youre  purs,  ye  shall  non  pay. 

By  crede,  I  trust  to  se  the  day, 
As  proud  a  pohen  as  ye  sprede, 
Of  me  and  other  ye  may  haue  nede. 


26  WOMANHOD,    WANTON,    TE    WANT. 

Though  angelyk  be  youre  smylyng, 
Yet  is  youre  tong  an  adders  tayle, 

Full  lyke  a  scorpyon  styngyng 

All  those  by  whom  ye  haue  auayle : 
Good  mastres  Anne,  there  ye  do  shayle : 

What  prate  ye,  praty  pyggysny  ? 

I  truste  to  quyte  you  or  I  dy. 

Youre  key  is  mete  for  euery  lok, 

Youre  key  is  commen  and  hangyth  owte 

Youre  key  is  redy,  we  nede  not  knok, 
Nor  stand  long  wrestyng  there  aboute  ; 
Of  youre  doregate  ye  haue  no  doute : 

But  one  thyng  is,  that  ye  be  lewde : 

Holde  youre  tong  now,  all  beshrewde ! 

To  mastres  Anne,  that  farly  swete, 

That  wonnes  at  the  Key  in  Temmys  strete. 


BALETTYS    ETC.  27 


Here  folowythe  dyuers  Balettys  and  Dyties  sola- 
cyous,  deuysyd  by  Master  Skelton,  Laureat.* 

WITH,  Lullay,  lullay,  lyke  a  chylde, 
Thou  slepyst  to  long,  thou  art  begylde. 

My  darlyng  dere,  my  daysy  floure, 

Let  me,  quod  he,  ly  in  your  lap. 
Ly  styll,  quod  she,  my  paramoure, 

Ly  styll  hardely,  and  take  a  nap. 

Hys  bed  was  heuy,  such  was  his  hap, 
All  drowsy  dremyng,  dround  in  slepe, 
That  of  hys  loue  he  toke  no  kepe, 

With,  Hey,  lullay,  &c. 

With  ba,  ba,  ba,  and  bas,  bas,  bas, 

She  cheryshed  hym  both  cheke  and  chyn, 

That  he  wyst  neuer  where  he  was  ;  10 

He  had  forgoten  all  dedely  syn. 
He  wantyd  wyt  her  loue  to  wyn : 

He  trusted  her  payment,  and  lost  all  hys  pray  :  * 

She  left  hym  slepying,  and  stale  away, 
Wyth,  Hey,  lullay,  &c. 

*  A  tract  so  entitled,  of  four  leaves,  n.  d.  and  without  print- 
er's name,  but  evidently  from  the  press  of  Pynson,  consists 
of  the  five  following  pieces. 

lpray\  Qy.  "pay"?    C. 


28  DYUERS    BALETTYS    AN'O 

The  ryuers  rowth,  the  waters  wan, 
She  sparyd  not,  to  wete  her  fete ; 

She  wadyd  ouer,  she  found  a  man 

That  halsyd  her  hartely  and  kyst  her  swete  : 
Thus  after  her  cold  she  cought  a  hete. 

My  lefe,  she  sayd,  rowtyth  iu  hys  bed  ; 

I  wys  he  hath  an  heuy  hed, 

Wyth,  Hey,  lullay,  &c. 

What  dremyst  thou,  drunchard,  drousy  pate  ! 

Thy  lust  and  lykyng  is  from  the"  gone  ; 
Thou  blynkerd  blowboll,  thou  wakyst  to  late, 

Behold,  thou  lyeste,  luggard,  alone  ! 

Well  may  thou  sygh,  well  may  thou  grone, 
To  dele  wyth  her  so  cowardly : 
I  wys,  powle  hachet,  she  bleryd  thyne  I. 

Qd  Skelton,  laureate. 


THE   auncient  acqusuatance,  madam,  betwen  vs 

twayn, 

The  famylyaryte,  the  formar  dalyaunce, 
Causyth  me  that  I  can  not  myself  refrayne 

Butthat  Irnust  wryteformy  plesaunt  pastaunce  : 
Remembryng  your  passying  goodly  counte- 

naunce, 

Your  goodly  port,  your  bewteous  visage, 
Ye  may  be  countyd  comfort  of  all  corage. 


DYTIES    SOLACYOUS.  29 

Of  all  your  feturs  fauorable  to  make  tru  discrip- 

cion, 
I  am  insuffycyent  to  make  such  enterpryse  ; 

For  thus  dare  I  say,  without  [conjtradiccyon,     10. 
That  dame  Menolope  was  neuer  half  so  wyse : 
Yet  so  it  is  that  a  rumer  begynnyth  for  to  ryse, 

How  in  good  horsmen  ye  set  your  hole  delyght, 

And  haue  forgoten  your  old  trew  louyng  khyght. 

Wyth  bound  and  rebound,  bounsyngly  take  vp 
Hys  jentyll  curtoyl,  and  set  nowght  by   small 


naggys 


Spur  vp  at  the  hynder  gyrth,  with,  Gup,  morell, 

gup! 
With,  Jayst  ye,  jenet  of  Spayne,  for  your  tayll 

waggys ! 
Ye  cast  all  your   corage  vppon  such  courtly 

haggys. 
Haue  in  sergeaunt  ferrour,  myne  horse  behynd  20 

is  bare  ; 
He  rydeth  well  the  horse,  but  he  rydeth  better 

the  mare. 

Ware,  ware,  the  mare  wynsyth  wyth  her  wanton 

hele! 
She  kykyth  with  her  kalkyns  and  keylyth  with 

a  clench ; 

She  goyth  wyde  behynde,  and  hewyth  neuer  a  dele  : 
Ware  gallyng  in  the    widders,   ware   of  that 
wrenche ! 


30  DYUERS    BALETTYS    AND 

It  is  perlous  for  a  horseman  to  dyg  in   the 

trenche. 
Thys  greuyth  your  husband,  that  ryght  jentyll 

knyght, 
And  so  with  youre  seruantys  he  fersly  doth  fyght. 

So  fersly  he  fytyth,  his  mynde  is  so  fell, 

That  he  dryuyth  them  doune  with  dyntes  on 

ther  day  wach  ;  » 

He  bresyth  theyr  braynpannys  and  makyth  them 

to  swell, 
Theyre  browys  all  to-brokyn,  such  clappys  they 

each  ; 
Whose  jalawsy  malycyous  makyth  them  to  lepe 

the  hach ; 
By  theyr  conusaunce  knowing  how  they  serue  a 

wily  py: 
Ask  all  your  neybours  whether  that  I  ly. 

It  can  be  no  counsell  that  is  cryed  at  the  cros  : 

For  youre  jentyll  husband  sorowfull  am  I ; 
How  be  it,  he  is  not  furst  hath  had  a  los : 
Aduertysyng  you,  madame,  to  warke  more 

secretly, 

Let  not  all  the  world  make  an  owtcry ;  « 

Play  fayre  play,  madame,  and  loke  ye  play  clene, 
Or  ells  with  gret  shame  your  game  wylbe  sene. 
Qd  Skelton,  laureat. 


DYTIES    SOLACYOUS.  31 


KNOLEGE,  aquayntance,  resort,  fauour  with  grace ; 

Delyte,  desyre,  respyte  wyth  lyberte  ; 
Corage  wyth  lust,  conuenient  tyme  and  space ; 

Dysdayns,  dystres,  exylyd  cruelte ; 

Wordys  well  set  with  good  habylyte  ; 
Demure  demenaunce,  womanly  of  porte  ; 
Transendyng  plesure,  surmountyng  all  dysporte  ; 

Allectuary  arrectyd  to  redres 

These  feuerous  axys,  the  dedely  wo  and  payne 
Of  thoughtfull  hertys  plungyd  in  dystres ;  10 

Refresshyng  myndys  the  Aprell  shoure   of 
rayne ; 

Condute  of  comforte,  and  well  most  souerayne  ; 
Herber  enverduryd,  contynuall  fressh  and  grene  ; 
Of  lusty  somer  the  passyng  goodly  quene  ; 

The  topas  rych  and  precyouse  in  vertew  ; 

Your  ruddys  wyth  ruddy  rubys  may  compare  ; 
Saphyre  of  sadnes,  enuayned  wyth  indy  blew ; 
The  pullyshed  perle  youre  whytenes  doth 

declare ; 

Dyamand  poyntyd  to  rase  oute  hartly  care ; 
Geyne   surfetous  suspecte  the  emeraud  com-  a 

endable ; 
Relucent  smaragd,  obiecte  imcomperable ; 

Encleryd  myrroure  and  perspectyue  most  bryght, 
Illumynyd  wyth  feturys  far  passyng  my  reporte ; 


32  DTUERS    BALETTYS    AND 

Radyent  Esperus,  star  of  the  clowdy  nyght, 
Lode  star  to  lyght  these  louers  to  theyr  porte, 
Gayne  dangerous  stormy s  theyr  anker  of  sup- 

porte, 

Theyr  sayll  of  solace  most  comfortably  clad, 
Whych  to  behold  makyth  heuy  hartys  glad  : 

Remorse  haue  I  of  youre  most  goodlyhod, 

Of  youre  behauoure  curtes  and  benynge,         so 

Of  your  bownte  and  of  youre  womanhod, 

Which   makyth   my   hart  oft  to   lepe   and 

sprynge, 
And  to  remember  many  a  praty  thynge ; 

But  absens,  alas,  wyth  tremelyng  fere  and  drede 

Abashyth  me,  albeit  I  haue  no  nede. 

You  I  assure,  absens  is  my  fo, 

My  dedely  wo,  my  paynfull  heuynes ; 

And  if  ye  lyst  to  know  the  cause  why  so, 

Open  myne  hart,  beholde  my  mynde  expres : 
I  wold  ye  coud  !  then  shuld  ye  se,  mastres,     « 

How  there  nys  thynge  that  I  couet  so  fayne 

As  to  enbrace  you  in  myne  armys  twayne. 

Nothynge  yerthly  to  me  more  desyrous 

Than  to  beholde  youre  bewteouse  countenaunce  : 

But,  hatefull  absens,  to  me  so  enuyous, 

Though  thou  withdraw  me  from   her  by   long 

dystaunce, 
Yet  shall  she  neuer  oute  of  remembraunce ; 


DTTIES    SOLACYOUS.  33 

For  I  haue  grauyd  her  wythin  the  secret  wall 
Of  my  trew  hart,  to  loue  her  best  of  all ! 

Qd  Skelton,  laureat. 


Ouncta  licet  cecidisse  putas  discrimina  rerum, 

Et  prius  incerta  nunc  tibi  certa  manent, 
Consiliis  usure  meis  tamen  aspice  caute, 

Subdola  non  f allot  te  dea  fraude  sua  : 
Scepe  solet  placido  mortales  fallere  vultu, 

Et  cute  sub  placida  tabida  scepe  dolent  ; 
Ut  quando  secura  putas  et  cuncta  serena, 

Anguis  sub  viridi  gramine  scepe  latet. 
Though  ye  suppose  all  jeperdys  ar  paste, 

And  all  is  done  that  ye  lokyd  for  before,         » 
Ware  yet,  I  rede  you,  of  Fortunes  dowble  cast, 

For  one  fals  poynt  she  is  wont  to  kepe  in  store, 

And  vnder  the  fell  oft  festered  is  the  sore  : 
That  when  ye  thynke  all  daunger  for  to  pas, 
Ware  of  the  lesard  lyeth  lurkyng  in  the  gras. 
Qd  Skelton,  laureat. 


Go,  pytyous  hart,  rasyd  with  dedly  wo, 

Persyd  with  payn,  bleding  with  wondes  smart, 

Bewayle  thy  fortune,  with  vaynys  wan  and  bio. 
O  Fortune  vnfrendly,  Fortune  vnkynde  thow 
art, 

VOL.   I.  3 


34  DYUERS    BALETTY3,    ETC. 

To  be  so  cruell  and  so  ouerthwart, 
To  suffer  me  so  careful!  to  endure, 
That  wher  I  loue  best  I  dare  not  dyscure ! 

One  ther  is,  and  euer  one  shalbe, 

For  whose  sake  my  hart  is  sore  dyseasyd  ; 

For  whose  loue,  welcom  dysease  to  me !  10 

I  am  content  so  all  partys  be  pleasyd : 
Yet,  and  God  wold,  I  wold  my  payne  were 


But  Fortune  enforsyth  me  so  carefully  to  endure, 
That  where  I  loue  best  I  dare  not  dyscure. 

Skelton,  laureat, 
At  the  instance  of  a  nobyll  lady. 


MANERLY  MARGERY. 


MANERLY  MARGERY  MYLK  AND  ALE.* 

AY,  besherewe  yow,  be  my  fay, 

This  wanton  clarkes  be  nyse  all  way ; 

Avent,  avent,  my  popagay ! 

What,  will  ye  do  no  thyng  but  play  ? 

Tully  valy,  strawe,  let  be,  I  say ! 

Gup,  Cristian  Clowte,  gup,  Jak  of  the  vale  ! 

With,  Manerly  Margery  Mylk  and  Ale. 

Be  God,  ye  be  a  praty  pode, 

And  I  loue  you  an  hole  cart  lode. 

Strawe,  Jamys  foder,  ye  play  the  fode, 

I  am  no  hakney  for  your  rode  ; 

Go  watch  a  bole,  your  bak  is  brode ; 

Gup,  Cristian  Clowte,  gup,  Jak  of  the  vale  ! 

With,  Manerly  Margery  Mylk  and  Ale. 


*  From  the  Fairfax  MS.,  which  formerly  belonged  to  Ralph 
Thoresby,  and  now  forms  part  of  the  Additional  MSS.  (5465. 
fol.  109)  in  the  British  Museum.  It  was  printed  (together 
with  the  music,)  by  Hawkins,  Hist,  of  Music,  iii.  2.  This  song 
was  inserted  also  in  the  first  edition  of  Ancient  Songs,  1790, 
p.  100,  by  Ritson,  who  observes. — "  Since  Sir  J.  Hawkins's 
transcript  was  made,  the  MS.  appears  to  have  received  certain 
alterations,  occasioned,  as  it  should  seem,  but  certainly  not 
authorised,  by  the  over-scrupulous  delicacy  of  its  late  or 
present  possessor."  p.  102. 


36  MANERLY   MARGERY. 

I  wiss  ye  dele  vncurtesly  ; 

What  wolde  ye  frompill  me  ?  now,  fy  ! 

What,  and  ye  shalbe  my  piggesnye  ? 

Be  Crist,  ye  shall  not,  no  hardely ; 

I  will  not  be  japed  bodely  : 

Gup,  Oistian  Clowte,  gup,  Jake  of  the  vale! 

With,  Manerly  Margery  Mylk  and  Ale. 

Walke  forth  your  way,  ye  cost  me  nought ; 
Now  haue  I  f'owned  that  I  haue  sought, 
The  best  chepe  flessh  that  euyr  I  bought. 
Yet,  for  His  loue  that  all  hath  wrought, 
Wed  me,  or  els  I  dye  for  thought ! 
Gup,  Cristian  Clowte,  your  breth  is  stale ! 
Go,  Manerly  Margery  Mylk  and  Ale ! 
Gup,  Cristian  Clowte,  gup,  Jak  of  the  vale  ! 
With,  Manerly  Margery  Mylk  and  Ale. 


THE    BOWGE    OF    COURTE.  37 


HERE    BEGYNNETH    A    LTTELL   TREATT8B, 
NAMED 

THE  BOWGE   OF  COURTE.* 

THE  PROLOGUE  TO  THE  BOWGE  OF  COURTE. 

IN  autumpne,  whan  the  sonne  in  Virgine 
By  radyante  hete  enrypcd  hath  our  come  ; 

Whan  Luna,  full  of  mutabylyte, 

As  emperes  the   dyademe  hath  worne 

Of  our  pole  artyke,  smylynge  halfe  in  scorne 

At  our  foly  and  our  vnstedfastnesse  ; 

The  tyme  whan  Mars  to  werre  hym  dyde  dres  ; 

I,  callynge  to  mynde  the  greate  auctoryte 
Of  poetes  olde,  whyche  full  craftely, 

Vnder  as  couerte  termes  as  coude  be,       *  10 

Can  touche  a  trouth  and  cloke  it  subtylly 
Wyth  fressh'e  vtteraunce  full  sentencyously  ; 

Dyuerse  in  style,  some  spared  not  vyce  to  wryte,1 

Some  of  moralyte  nobly  dyde  endyte  ; 

#  From  the  ed.  of  Wynkyn  de  "Worde,  n.  d.,  in  the  Advo- 
cates' Library,  Edinburgh,  collated  with  another  ed.  by 
Wynkyn  de  Worde,  n.  d.,  in  the  Public  Library,  Cambridge, 
and  with  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Workes,  1568. 

1  wryte}  Qy.  "  wyte  "  (i.  e.  blame)? 


38  THE    BOWGE    OF    COURTE. 

Wherby  I  rede  theyr  renome  and  theyr  fame 
Maye  neuer  dye,  bute  euermore  endure : 

I  was  sore  moued  to  aforce  the  same, 

But  Ignoraunce  full  soone  dyde  me  dyscure, 
And  shewed  that  in  this  arte  I  was  not  sure  ; 

For  to  illumyne,  she  sayde,  I  was  to  dulle,          « 

Auysynge  me  my  penne  alwaye  to  pulle, 

And  not  wryte ;  for  he  so  wyll  atteyne 
Excedynge  ferther  than  his  connynge  is, 

His  hede  maye  be  harde,  but  feble  is  his  brayne, 
Yet  haue  I  knowen  suche  er  this  ; 
But  of  reproche  surely  he  maye  not  mys, 

That  clymmeth  hyer  than  he  may  fotynge  haue  ; 

What  and  he  slyde  downe,  who  shall  hym  saue  ? 

Thus  vp  and  down  my  mynde  was  drawen  and 
cast, 

That  I  ne  wyste  what  to  do  was  beste  ;  so 

So  sore  enwered,  that  I  was  at  the  laste 

Enforsed  to  slepe  and  for  to  take  some  reste  ; 

And  to  lye  downe  as  soone  as  I  me  dreste, 
At  Harwyche  Porte  slumbrynge  as  I  laye, 
In  myne  hostes  house,  called  Powers  Keye, 

Methoughte  I  sawe  a  shyppe,  goodly  of  sayle, 
Come  saylynge  forth  into  that  hauen  brood, 

Her  takelynge  ryche  and  of  hye  apparayle : 
She  kyste  an  anker,  and  there  she  laye  at  rode. 
Marchauntes  her  horded  to  see  what  she  had  « 
lode: 


THE    BOWGE    OF    COURTE.  39 

Therein  they  founde  royall  raarchaundyse, 
Fraghted  with  plesure  of  what  ye  coude  deuyse. 

But  than  I  thoughte  I  woulde  not  dwell  behynde 
Amonge  all  other  I  put  myselfe  in  prece. 

Than  there  coude  I  none  aquentaunce  fynde : 
There  was  moche  noyse  ;  anone  one  cryed,  Cese ! 
Sharpely  comraaundynge  eche  man  holde  hys 
pece: 

Maysters,  he  sayde,  the  shyp  that  ye  here  see, 

The  Bowge  of  Courte  it  hyghte  for  certeynte : 

The  owner  therof  is  lady  of  estate,  no 

Whoos  name  to  tell  is  dame  Saunce-pere  ; 

Her  marchaundyse  is  ryche  and  fortunate, 

But  whowyllhaue  itmustepaye  therfore  dere; 
This  royall  chaffre  that  is  shypped  here 

Is  called  Fauore,  to  stonde  in  her  good  grace. 

Than  sholde  ye  see  there  pressynge  in  a  pace 

Of  one  and  other  that  wolde  this  lady  see  ; 
Whiche  sat  behynde  a  traues  of  sylke  fyne, 

Of  golde  of  tessew  the  f'ynest  that  myghte  be, 
In  a  trone  whiche  fer  clerer  dyde  shyne          « 
Than  Phebus  in  his  spere  celestyne  ; 

Whoos  beaute,  honoure,  goodly  porte, 

I  haue  to  lytyll  connynge  to  reporte. 

But,  of  eche  thynge  there  as  I  toke  hede, 
Amonge  all  other  was  wrytten  in  her  trone, 


40  THE    BOWGE    OF    COTJRTE. 

In  golde  letters,  this  worde,  whiche  I  dyde  rede, 

Garder 1  le  fortune,  que  est  mauelz  et  bone  ! 

And,  as  I  stode  redynge  this  verse  myselfe  allone, 

Her  chyef  gentylwoman,  Daunger  by  her  name, 

Gaue  me  a  taunte,  and  sayde  I  was  to  blame      ro 

To  be  so  perte  to  prese  so  proudly  vppe : 
She  sayde  she  trowed  that  I  had  eten  sause  ; 

She  asked  yf  euer  I  dranke  of  saucys  cuppe. 
And  I  than  softly  answered  to  that  clause, 
That,  so  to  saye,  I  had  gyuen  her  no  cause. 

Than  asked  she  me,  Syr,  so  God  the  spede, 

What  is  thy  name  ?  and  I  sayde,  it  was  Drede/ 

What  mouyd  the,  quod  she,  hydder  to  come  ? 
Forsoth,  quod  I,  to  bye  some  of  youre  ware. 

And  with  that  worde  on  me  she  gaue  a  glome     « 
With  browes  bente,  and  gan  on  me  to  stare 
Full  daynnously,  and  fro  me  she  dyde  fare, 

Leuynge  me  stondynge  as  a  mased  man : 

To  whome  there  came  an  other  gentylwoman  ; 

Desyre  her  name  was,  and  so  she  me  tolde, 
Sayenge  to  me,  Broder,  be  of  good  chere, 

Abasshe  you  not,  but  hardely  be  bolde, 

Auaunce  yourselfe  to  aproche  and  come  nere : 
What  though  our  chaffer  be  neuer  so  dere, 

Yet  I  auyse  you  to  speke,  for  ony  drede :  so 

Who  spareth  to  speke,  in  fayth  he  spareth  to  spede. 
i  Carder]  Marshe's  ed.  "  Garde."    Qy.  "  Gardezt " 


THE    BOWGE    OF    COURTE.  41 

Maystres,  quocl  I,  I  haue  none  aquentaunce, 
That  wyll  for  me  be  medyatoure  and  mene  ; 

And  this  an  other,  I  haue  but  smale  substaunce. 
Pece,  quod  Desyre,  ye  speke  not  worth  a  bene  : 
Yf  ye  haue  not,  in  fayth  I  wyll  you  lene 

A  precyous  Jewell,  no  rycher  in  this  londe  ; 

Bone  Auenture  haue  here  now  in  your  honde. 

Shyfte  now  therwith,  let  see,  as  ye  can, 

In  Bowge  of  Courte  cheuysaunce  to  make ;    100 

For  I  dare  saye  that  there  nys  erthly  man 
But,  an  x  he  can  Bone  Auenture  take, 
There  cau  no  fauour  nor  frendshyp  hym  forsake  ; 

Bone  Auenture  may  brynge  you  in  suche  case 

That  ye  shall  stonde  in  fauoure  and  in  grace. 

But  of  one  thynge  I  werne  you  er  2  I  goo, 

She  that  styreth  the  shyp,  make  her  your  frende. 

Maystres,  quod  I,  I  praye  you  tell  me  why  soo, 
And  how  I  maye  that  waye'and  meanes  fynde. 
Forsothe,  quod  she,  how  euer  blowe  the     no 
wynde 

Fortune  gydeth  and  ruleth  all  oure  shyppe  : 

Whome  she  hateth  shall  ouer  the  see  boorde  skyp ; 

Whome  she  loueth,  of  all  plesyre  is  ryche, 

Whyles  she  laugheth  and  hath  luste  for  to  playe  ; 
Whome  she  hateth,  she  casteth  in  the  dyche, 

1  an]  W.  de  Worde's  ed.  P.  L.  C.,  and  Marshe'sed.  "and." 

2  er]  W.  de  Worde's  ed.  P.  L.  C.,  "or." 


42  THE   BOWGE    OF    COTJRTE. 

For  whan  she  frouneth,  she  thynketh  to  make 

a  fray  ; 
She  cheryssheth  him,  and  hym  she  casseth a 

awaye. 

Alas,  quod  I,  how  myghte  I  haue  her  sure  ? 
In  fayth,  quod  she,  by  Bone  Auenture. 

Thus,  in  a  rowe,  of  martchauntes  a  grete  route  i» 
Suwed  to  Fortune  that  she  wold  be  theyre 
frynde  : 

They  thronge  in  fast,  and  flocked  her  aboute ; 
And  I  with  them  prayed  her  to  haue  in  mynde. 
She  promysed  to  vs  all  she  wolde  be  kynde : 

Of  Bowge  of  Court  she  asketh  what  we  wold  haue ; 

And  we  asked  Fauoure,  and  Fauour  she  vs  gaue. 

Thus  endeth  the  Prologue  ;  and  hegynneth  the 
Bowge  of  Courte  breuely  compyled. 


The  sayle  is  vp,  Fortune  ruleth  our  helme, 
We  wante  no  wynd  to  passe  now  ouer  all ; 

Fauoure  we  haue  tougher  than  ony  elme, 

That  wyll  abyde  and  neuer  from  vs  fall :        is 
But  vnder  hony  ofte  tyme  lyeth  bytter  gall ; 

For,  as  me  thoughte,  in  our  shyppe  I  dyde  see 

Full  subtyll  persones,  in  nombre  foure  and  thre. 


i  ccasedi]  W.  de  Worde's  ed.  P.  L.  C., "  casteth."    Marshe'a 
ed.  "chasseth." 


THE    BOWGE    OP    COURTE.  43 

The  fyrste  was  Fauell,  full  of  flatery, 

Wyth  fables 'false  that  well  coude  fayne  a 

tale; 

The  seconde  was  Suspecte,  whiche  that  dayly 
Mysdempte   eche  man,  with  face  deedly   and 

pale ; 
And  Haruy   Hafter^that  well  coude  picke  a 

male ; 

With  other  foure  of  theyr  affynyte, 
Dysdayne,  Ryotte,  Dyssymuler,  Subtylte.  MO 

Fortune  theyr  frende,  with  whome  oft  she  dyde 

daunce  ; 
They  coude  not  faile,  thei  thought,  they  were 

so  sure ; 

And  oftentymes  I  wolde  myselfe  auaunce 
With  them  to  make  solace  and  pleasure ; 
But  my   dysporte   they   coude   not   well   en- 
dure ; 

They  sayde  they  hated  for  to  dele  with  Drede. 
Than  Fauell  gan  wyth  fayre  speche  me  to  fede. 

FAUELL. 

Noo  thynge  erthely  that  I  wonder  so  sore 
As  of  your  connynge,  that  it  is  so  excellent ; 

Deynte  to  haue  with  vs  suche  one  in  store,         iso 
So  vertuously  that  hath  his  dayes  spente  : 
Fortune  to  you  gyftes  of  grace  hath  lente  : 

Loo,  what  it  is  a  man  to  haue  connynge  ! 

All  erthly  tresoure  it  is  surmountynge. 

^Hafter]  Eds.  "Raster."  See  notes. 


44  THE    BOWGE    OF    COURTE. 

Ye  be  an  apte  man,  as  ony  can  be  founde, 

To  dwell  with  vs,  and  serue  rny  ladyes  grace  ; 

Ye  be  to  her  yea  worth  a  thousande  pounde ; 
I  herde  her  speke  of  you  within  shorte  space, 
Whan  there  were  dyuerse  that  sore  dyde  you 
manace ; 

And,  though  I  say  it,  I  was  myselfe  your  frende, 

For  here  be  dyuerse  to  you  that  be  vnkynde.     i«» 

But  this  one  thynge  ye  maye  be  sure  of  me  ; 
For,  by  that  Lorde  that  bought  dere  all   man- 

kynde, 
I  can  not  flater,  I  muste  be  playne  to  the*  ; 

And  ye  nede  ought,  man,  shewe  to  me  your 

mynde, 

For  ye  haue  me  whome  faythfull  ye  shall  fynde ; 
Whyles  I  haue  ought,  by   God,  thou  shall  not 

lacke, 
And  yf  nede  be,  a  bolde  worde  I  dare  cracke. 

Nay,  naye,  be  sure,  whyles  I  am  on  your  syde, 
Ye  maye  not  fall,  truste  me,  ye  maye  not  wo 

fayle; 

Ye  stonde  in  fauoure,  and  Fortune  is  your  gyde, 
.And,  as  she  wyll,  so  shall  our  grete  shyppe 

sayle:^ 
Thyse  lewde  cok  wattes  shall  neuermore  pre- 

uayle 

Ageynste  you  hardely,  therfore  lie  not  afrayde : 
Farewell  tyll  soone  ;  but  no  worde  that  I  sayde. 


THE  BOWGE  OF  COURTE.         45 
DREDE. 

Than  thanked  I  hym  for  his  grete  gentylnes  : 
But,  as  me  thoughte,  he  ware  on  hym  a  cloke, 

That  lyned  was  with  doubtfull  doiiblenes  ; 

Me  thoughte,  of  wordes  that  he  had  full  a  poke  ; 
His  stomak  stuffed  ofte  tymes  dyde  reboke :  iso 

Suspycyon,  me  thoughte,  mette  hym  at  a  brayde, 

And   I   drewe  nere  to  herke   what  they  two 
sayde. 

In  faythe,  quod  Suspecte,  spake  Drede  no  worde 

of  me? 
Why,  what  than?   wylte  thou  lete  men  to 

^speke  ? 

He  sayth,  he  can  not  well  accorde  with  the". 
Twyst,1  quod  Suspecte,  goo  playe,  hym  I  ne 

reke. 
By  Cryste,  quod  Fauell,  Drede  is  soleyne 

freke : 

What  lete  vs  holde  him  vp,  man,  for  a  whyle  ? 
Ye  soo,  quod  Suspecte,  he  maye  vs  bothe  begyle. 

And  whan  he  came  walkynge  soberly,  tw 

Wyth  whom  and  ha,  and  with  a  croked  loke, 

Me  thoughte,  his  hede  was  full  of  gelousy, 
His  eyne  rollynge,  his  hondes  faste  they 

quoke ; 
And  to  me  warde  the  strayte  waye  he  toke  : 

i  Taytl]  W.  de  Worde's  ed.  P.  L.  C.,  "  Whist."     Marshe's 
ed.  "  Twysshe." 


4b  THE   BOWGE    OF    COURTE. 

God  spede,  broder  !  to  me  quod  he  than  ; 
And  thus  to  talke  with  me  he  began. 

STJSPYCYON. 

Ye  remembre  the  gentylman  ryghte  nowe 

That  commaunde  with  you,  me  thought,  a  party 

space  ?  1 
Beware  of  him,  for,  I  make  God  auowe, 

He  wyll  begyle  you  and  speke  fayre  to  your 

face ; 

Ye  neuer  dwelte  in  suche  an  other  place,       201 
For  here  is  none  that  dare  well  other  truste  ; 
But  I  wolde  telle  you  a  thynge,  and  I  durste. 

Spake  he  a  fayth  no  worde  to  you  of  me  ? 

•    I  wote,  and  he  dyde,  ye  wolde  me  telle. 

I  haue  a  fauoure  to  you,  wherof  it  be 

That  I  muste  shewe  you  moche  of  my  counselle  : 
But  I  wonder  what  the  deuyll  of  helle 

He  sayde  of  me,  whan  he  with  you  dyde  talke  : 

By  myne  auyse  vse  not  with  him  to  walke.        «"> 

The  soueraynst  thynge  that  ony  man  maye  haue, 
Is  lytyll  to  saye,  and  moche  to  here  and  see ; 

For,  but  I  trusted  you,  so  God  me  saue, 
I  wolde  noo  thynge  so  playne  be  ; 
To  you,oonly,  me  thynke,  I  durste  shryue  me ; 


i  a  party  space]  So  W.  de  Worde's  ed.  P.  L.  C.     Other  eds. 
'  a  party  spake."     Qy.  "  &praty  (pretty)  space?  " 


THE    BOWGE    OF    COURTE.  47 

For  now  am  I  plenarely  dysposed 
To   shewe   you   thynges   that   may  not   be  dis 
closed. 


Than  I  assured  hym  my  fydelyte, 

His  counseyle  secrete  neuer  to  dyscure, 

Yf  he  coude  fynde  in  herte  to  truste  me  ;  220 

Els  I  prayed  hym,  with  all  my  besy  cure, 
To  kepe  it  hymselfe,  for  than  he  myghte  be  sure 

That  noo  man  erthly  coude  hym  bewreye, 

Whyles  of  hys  mynde  it  were  lockte  with  the  keye. 

By  God,  quod  he,  this  and  thus  it  is  ; 

And  of  his  mynde  he  shewed  me  all  and  some. 
Farewell,  quod  he,  we  wyll  talke  more  of  this  : 

Soo  he  departed  there  he  wolde  be  come. 

I  dare  not  speke,  I  promysed  to  be  dome : 
But,  as  I  stode  musynge  in  my  mynde,  230 

Haruy  Hafter  came  lepynge,  lyghte  as  lynde. 

Vpon  his  breste  he  bare  a  versynge  boxe  ; 

His  throte  was  clere,  and  lustely  coude  fayne ; 

Me  thoughte,  his  gowne  was  all  furred  wyth  foxe  ; 

And  euer  he  sange,  Sythe  I  am  no  thynge 

playne. 
To  kepe  him  frome  pykyng  it  was  a  grete 

payne  : 

He  gased  on  me  with  his  gotyshe  berde  ; 
Whan  I  loked  on  hym,  my  purse  was  half  aferde. 


48         THE  BOWGE  OF  CODKTE. 
HARUY  HAFTEK. 

Syr,  God  you  saue !  why  loke  ye  so  sadde  ? 
What  thynge  is  that  I  maye  do  for  you  ?  •*« 

A  wonder  thynge  that  ye  waxe  not  madde  ! 
For,  and  I  studye  sholde  as  ye  doo  no\ve, 
My  wytte  wolde  waste,  I  make  God  auowe. 

Tell  me    your  mynde :  me  thynke,  ye   make  a 
verse  ; 

I  coude  it  skan,  and  ye  wolde  it  reherse. 

But  to  the  poynte  shortely  to  precede, 

Where  hathe  your  dwellynge  ben,  er  ye  cam 
here  ? 

For,  as  I  trowe,  I  haue  sene  you  indede 

Er  this,  whan  that  ye  made  me  royall  chere. 
Holde  vp  the  helme,  loke  vp,  and  lete  God  stere  : 

I  wolde  be  mery,  what  wynde  that  euer  blowe,  «si 

Heue  and  how  rombelow,  row  the  bote,  Norman, 


Prynces  of  yougthe  can  ye  synge  by  rote  ? 
Or  shall  I  sayle  wyth  you  a  felashyp  assaye  ; 

For  on  the  booke  I  can  not  synge  a  note. 

Wolde  to  God,  it  wolde  please  you  some  daye 
A  balade  boke  before  me  for  to  laye, 

And  lerne  me  to  synge,  Re,  my,  fa,  sol  ! 

And,  whan  I  fayle,  bobbe  me  on  the  noil. 

Loo,  what  is  to  you  a  pleasure  grete,  *» 

To  haue  that  connynge  and  wayes  that  ye  haue  ! 


THE   BOWGE    OP    COURTE.  49 

By  Goddis  soule,  I  wonder  how  ye  gete 

Soo  greate  pleasyre,  or  who  to  you  it  gaue : 
Syr,  pardone  me,  I  am  an  homely  knaue, 

To  be  with  you  thus  perte  and  thus  bolde ; 

But  ye  be  welcome  to  our  housholde. 

And,  I  dare  saye,  there  is  no  man  here  inne 
But  wolde  be  glad  of  your  company  : 

I  wyste  neuer  man  that  so  soone  coude  wynne 
The  fauoure  that  ye  haue  with  my  lady  ;       270 
I  praye  to  God  that  it  maye  neuer  dy : 

It  is  your  fortune  for  to  haue  that  grace ; 

As  I  be  saued,  it  is  a  wonder  case. 

For,  as  for  me,  I  serued  here  many  a  daye, 
And  yet  vnneth  I  can  haue  my  lyuynge  : 

But  I  requyre  you  no  worde  that  I  saye ; 
For,  and  I  knowe  ony  erthly  thynge 
That  is  agayne  you,  ye  shall  haue  wetynge : 
'  And  ye  be  welcome,  syr,  so  God  me  saue  : 

I  hope  here  after  a  frende  of  you  to  haue.          a» 

DREDE. 

Wyth  that,  as  he  departed  soo  fro  me, 

Anone  ther  mette  with  him,  as  me  thoughte, 
A  man,  but  wonderly  besene  was  he  ; 

He   loked   hawte,   he   sette   eche   man   at 

noughte ; 
His  gawdy  garment  with  scornnys   was  all 

wrought ; 
VOL.  i.  4 


50  THE    BOWGE    OP    COURTE. 

With  indygnacyon  lyned  was  his  hode ; 
He  frowned,  as  he  wolde  swere   by  Cockes 
blode; 

He  bote  the  lyppe,  he  loked  passynge  coye ; 
His  face  was  belymmed,  as  byes  had  him 
stounge  : 

It  was  no  tyme  with  him  to  jape  nor  toye  ;  29* 
Enuye  hathe  wasted  his  lyuer  and  his  lounge, 
Hatred  by  the  herte  so  had  hym  wrounge, 

That  he  loked  pale  as  asshes  to  my  syghte  : 

Dysdayne,  I  wene,  this  comerous  crabes  hyghte. 

To  Heruy  Hafter  than  he  spake  of  me, 

And  I  drewe  nere  to  harke  what  they  two  sayde. 

Now,  quod  Dysdayne,  as  I  shall  saued  be, 
I  haue   grete  scorne,  and  am  ryghte  euyll 

apayed. 
Than  quod  Heruy,  why  arte  thou  so  dysmayde  ? 

By  Cryste,  quod  he,  for  it  is  shame  to  saye  ;      300 

To  see  Johan  Dawes,  that  came  but  yester  daye, 

How  he  is  now  taken  in  conceyte, 

This  doctour  Dawcocke,  Drede,  I  wene,  he 

hyghte : 
By  Goddis  bones,  but  yf  we  haue  som  sleyte, 

It  is  lyke  he  wyll  stonde  in  our  lyghte. 

By  God,  quod  Heruy,  and  it  so  happen  myghte  ;. 
Lete  vs  therfore  shortely  at  a  worde 
Fynde  some  mene  to  caste  him  ouer  the  borde. 


THE   BOWGE    OF   COURTE.  51 

By  Him  that  me  boughte,  than  quod  Dysdayne, 
I  wonder  sore  he  is  in  suche  conceyte.  su 

Turde,  quod  Hafter,  I  wyll  the*  no  thynge  layne, 
There  muste  for  hym  be  layde  some  prety  beyte  ;' 
We  tweyne,  I  trowe,  be  not  withoute  dysceyte  : 

Fyrste  pycke  a  quarell,  and  fall  oute  with  hym 
then, 

And  soo  outface  hym  with  a  carde  of  ten. 

Forthwith  he  made  on  me  a  prowde  assawte, 
With  scornfull  loke  meuyd  all  in  moode ; 

He  wente  aboute  to  take  me  in  a  fawte  ; 

He  frounde,  he  stared,  he  stampped  where  he 

stoode. 
I  lokyd  on  hym,  I  wende  he  had  be  woode.    a» 

He  sent  the  arme  proudly  vnder  the  syde; 

And  in  this  wyse  he  gan  with  me  to  chyde. 

DISDAYNE. 

Remembrest  thou  what  thou  sayd  yester  nyght  ? 
Wylt  thou  abyde  by  the  wordes  agayne  ? 

By  God,  I  haue  of  the  now  grete  dyspyte ; 
I  shall  the  angre  ones  in  euery  vayne : 
It  is  greate  scorne  to  see  suche  an  hayne 

As  thou  arte,  one  that  cam  but  yesterdaye, 

With  vs  olde  seruauntes  suche  rnaysters  to  playe. 

I  tell  the,  I  am  of  countenaunce  :  sao 

What  weneste  I  were  ?  I  trowe,  thou  knowe 
not  me. 


52  THE    BOWGE    OF    COURTE. 

By  Goddis  woundes,  but  for  dysplesaunce, 
Of  my  querell  soone  wolde  I  venged  be  : 
But  no  force,  I  shall  ones  mete  with  the" ; 

Come  whan  it  wyll,  oppose  the  I  shall, 

What  someuer  auenture  therof  fall. 

Trowest  thou,  dreuyll,  I  saye,  thou  gawdy  knaue, 
That  I  haue  deynte  to  see  the*  cherysshed  thus  ? 

By  Goddis  syd,  my  sworde  thy  berde  shall  shaue  ; 
Well,  ones  thou  shalte  be  chermed,  I  wus :    340 
Naye,  strawe  for  tales,  thou  shalte  not  rule  vs ; 

We  be  thy  betters,  and  so  thou  shalte  vs  take, 

Or  we  shall  the*  oute  of  thy  clothes  shake. 

DBEDE. 

Wyth  that  came  Ryotte,  russhynge  all  at  ones, 
A  rusty  gallande,  to-ragged  and  to-rente  ; 

And  on  the  borde  he  whyrled  a  payre  of  bones, 
Quater  ireye  dews  he  clatered  as  he  wente  ; 
Now  haue  at  all,  by  saynte  Thomas  of  Kente  ! 

And  euer  he  threwe  and  kyst  I  wote  nere  what : 

His  here  was  growen  thorowe  oute  his  hat.        350 

Thenne  I  behelde  how  he  dysgysed  was : 

His  hede  was  heuy  for  watchynge  ouer  nyghte, 

His  even  blereed,  his  face  shone  lyke  a  glas  ; 
His  gowne  so  shorte  that  it  ne  couer  myghte 
His  rumpe,  he  wente  so  all  for  somer  lyghte ; 

His  hose  was  garded  wyth  a  lyste  of  grene, 

Yet  at  the  knee  they  were  broken,  I  wene. 


THE   BOWGE    OF    COURTE.  53 

His  cote  was  checked  with  patches  rede  and  blewe  ; 

Of  Kyrkeby  Kendall  was  his  shorte  demye  ; 
And  ay  he  sange,  In  fayth,  decon  thou  crewe  ;   360 

His  elbowe  bare,  he  ware  his  gere  so  nye ; 

His  nose  a  droppynge,  his  lyppes  were  full  drye ; 
And  by  his  syde  his  whynarde  and  his  pouche, 
The  deuyll  myghte  daunce  therin  for  ony  crowche. 

Counter  he  coude  0  lux  vpon  a  potte  ; 
An  eestryche  fedder  of  a  capons  tayle 

He  set  vp  fresshely  vpon  his  hat  alofte  : 

What,reuell  route!  quod  he,  and  gan  to  rayle 
How  oft  he  hadde  hit  Jenet  on  the  tayle, 

Of  Felyce  fetewse,  and  lytell  prety  Gate,  sro 

How  ofte  he  knocked  at  her  klycked  gate. 

What  sholde  I  tell  more  of  his  rebaudrye  ? 
I  was  ashamed  so  to  here  hym  prate  : 

He  had  no  pleasure  but  in  harlotrye. 
Ay,  quod  he,  in  the  deuylles  date, 
What  art  thou  ?  I  sawe  the  nowe  but  late. 

Forsothe,  quod  I,  in  this  courte  I  dwell  nowe. 

Welcome,  quod  Ryote,  I  make  God  auowe. 

RTOTE. 

And,  syr,  in  fayth  why  comste  not  vs  amonge, 
To  make  the  mery,  as  other  felowes  done  ?    sso 

Thou  muste  swere  anJ  stare,  man,  al  daye  longe, 
And  wake  all  nyghte,  and  slepe  tyll  it  be  none  ; 
Thou  mayste  not  studye,  or  muse  on  the  mone ; 


54  THE    BOWGE    OF    COURTS. 

This  worlde  is  nothynge  but  ete,  drynke,  and  slepe, 
And  thus  with  vs  good  company  to  kepe. 

Plucke  vp  thyne  herte  vpon  a  mery  pyne, 

And  lete  vs  laugh  a  placke  or  tweyne  at  nale : 

What  the  deuyll,  man,  myrthe  was  neuer  one ! 
What,  loo,  man,  see  here  of  dyce  a  bale ! 
A  brydelynge  caste  for  that  is  in  thy  male !  390 

Now  haue  at  all  that  lyeth  vpon  the  burde ! 

Fye  on  this  dyce,  they  be  not  worth  a.  turde ! 

Haue  at  the  hasarde,  or  at  the  dosen  browne, 

Or  els  I  pas  a  peny  to  a  pounde ! 
Now,  wolde  to  God,  thou  wolde  leye  money  downe  ! 

Lorde,  how  that  I  wolde  caste  it  full  rounde  ! 

Ay,  in  my  pouche  a  buckell  I  haue  founde ! 
The  armes  of  Calyce,  I  haue  no  coyne  nor  crosse ! 
I  am  not  happy,  I  renne  ay  on  the  losse. 

Now  renne  muste  I  to  the  stewys  syde,  400 

To  wete  yf  Malkyn,  my  lemman,  haue  gete 
oughte : 

I  lete  her  to  hyre,  that  men  maye  on  her  ryde, 
Her  armes  easy  ferre  and  nere  is  soughte  : 
By  Goddis  sydes,  syns  I  her  thyder  broughte, 

She  hath  gote  me  more  money  with  her  tayle 

Than  hath  some  shyppe  that  into  Bordews  sayle. 


i  placke]  Marshe's  ed.  "  plucke," — perhaps  the  right  read- 
ing. 


THE    BOWGE    OF    COURTE.  55 

Had  I  as  good  an  hors  as  she  is  a  mare, 

I  durst  auenture  to  iourney  through  Fraunce  ; 

Who  rydeth  on  her,  he  nedeth  not  to  care, 

For  she  is  trussed  for  to  breke  a  launce  ;       «« 
It  is  a  curtel  that  well  can  wynche  and  praunce  : 

To  her  wyll  I  nowe  all  my  pouerte  lege ; 

And,  tyll  I  come,  haue  here  is  myne  hat  to 
plege. 

DEEDE. 

Gone  is  this  knaue,  this  rybaude  foule  and  leude  ; 

He  ran  as  fast  as  euer  that  he  myghte : 
Vnthryftynes  in  hyrn  may  well  be  shewed, 

For  whome   Tyborne  groneth  both  daye  and 
nyghte. 

And,  as  I  stode  and  kyste  asyde  my  syghte, 
Dysdayne  I  sawe  with  Dyssymulacyon 
Standynge  in  sadde  communicacion.  «o 

But  there  was  poyntynge  and  noddynge  with  the 

hede, 

And  many  wordes  sayde  in  secrete  wyse ; 
They  wandred  ay,  and  stode  styll  in  no  stede  : 
Me  thoughte,  alwaye  Dyscymular  dyde  deuyse  ; 
Me  passynge  sore  myne  herte  than  gan  agryse,1 
I  dempte  and  drede  theyr  talkynge   was  not 

good. 
A.none   Dyscymular  came  where  I  stode. 

i  agryse]  Eds.  "  aryse."     See  notes. 


56  THE    BOWGE    OF    COURTE. 

Than  in  his  hode  I  sawe  there  faces  tweyne  ; 
That  one  was  lene  and  lyke  a  pyned  goost, 

That  other  loked  as  he  wolde  me  haue  slayne ;  *ao 
And  to  me  warde  as  he  gan  for  to  coost, 
Whan  that  he  was  euen  at  me  almoost, 

I  sawe  a  knyfe  hyd  in  his  one  sleue, 

Wheron  was  wryten  this  worde,  Myscheue. 

And  in  his  other  sleue,  me  thought,  I  sawe 
A  spone  of  golde,  full  of  hony  swete, 

To  fede  a  fole,  and  for  to  preue  a  dawe  ; 
And  on  that  sleue  these  wordes  were  wrete, 
A  false  abstracte  comethfrom  afals  concrete: 

His  hode  was  syde,  his  cope  was  roset  graye :   «c 

Thyse  were  the  wordes  that  he  to  me  dyde  saye. 

DYSSYMULATION. 

How  do  ye,  mayster  ?  ye  loke  so  soberly : 
As  I  be  saued  at  the  dredefull  daye, 

It  is  a  perylous  vyce,  this  enuy  : 

Alas,  a  connynge  man  ne  dwelle  maye 

In  no  place  well,  but  foles  with  hym  fraye ! 

But  as  for  that,  connynge  hath  no  foo 

Saue  hym  that  nought  can,  Scrypture  sayth  soo. 

I  knowe  your  vertu  and  your  lytterature 

By  that  lytel  connynge  that  I  haue :  <« 

Ye  be  malygned  sore,  I  you  ensure ; 

But  ye  haue  crafte  your  selfe  alwaye  to  saue : 
It  is  grete  scorne  to  se  a  mysproude  knaue 


THE   BOWGE    OF    COURTE.  57 

With  a  clerke  that  conuynge  is  to  prate : 
^Lete  theym  go  lowse  theym,  in  the  deuylles  date  ! 

For  all  be  it  that  this  longe  not  to  me, 

Yet  on  my  backe  I  bere  suche  lewde  delynge  : 

Ryghte  now  I  spake  with  one,  I  trowe,  I  see  ; 
But,  what,  a  strawe  !  I  maye  not  tell  all  thynge. 
By  God,  I  saye  there  is  grete  herte  brennynge 

Betwene  the  persone  ye  wote  of,  you  ;  «i 

Alas,  I  coude  not  dele  so  with  a  Jew ! 

I  'wolde  eche  man  were  as  playne  as  I ; 
It  is  a  worlde,  I  saye,  to  here  of  some ; 

I  hate  this  faynynge,  fye  vpon  it,  fye  ! 
A  man  can  not  wote  where  to  be  come : 
I  wys  I  coude  tell, — but  humlery,  home  ; 

I  dare  not  speke,  we  be  so  layde   awayte, 

For  all  our  courte  is  full  of  dysceyte.  ««> 

Now,  by  saynte  Fraunceys,  that  holy  man  and 

frere, 
I  hate  these  wayes  agayne  you  that  they  take : 

"Were  I  as  you,  I  wolde  ryde  them  full  nere  ; 
And,  by  my  trouthe,'b"ut  yf  an  ende  they  make, 
Yet  wyll  I  saye  some  wordes  for  your  sake, 

That  shall  them  angre,  I  holde  thereon  a  grote ; 

For  some  shall  wene  be  hanged  by  the  throte. 

I  haue  a  stoppynge  oyster  in  my  poke, 
Truste  me,  and  yf  it  come  to  a  nede  : 


58  THE    BOWGE    OF    COURTE. 

But  I  am  lothe  for  to  reyse  a  smoke, 
Yf  ye  coude  be  otherwyse  agrede  ;  «o 

And  so  I  wolde  it  were,  so  God  me  spede, 
For  this  maye  brede  to  a  confusyon, 
Withoute  God  make  a  good  conclusyon. 

Naye,  see  where  yonder  stondeth  the  teder  man  ! 

A  flaterynge  knaue  and  false  he  is,  God  wote  ; 
The  dreuyll  stondeth  to  herken,  and  he  can  : 

It  were  more  thryft,  he  boughte  him  a  newe  cote  ; 

It  will  not  be,  his  purse  is  not  on  flote : 
All  that  he  wereth,  it  is  borowed  ware  ; 
His  wytte  is  thynne,  his  hode  is  threde  bare.     «o 

More  coude  I  saye,  but  what  this  is  ynowe : 
Adewe  tyll  soone,  we  shall  speke  more  of  this  : 

Ye  muste  be  ruled  as  I  shall  tell  you  howe ; 
Amendis  maye  be  of  that  is  now  amys  ; 
And  I  am  your,  syr,  so  haue  I  blys, 

In  euery  poynte  that  I  can  do  or  saye  ; 

Gyue  me  your  honde,  farewell,  and  haue  good 
daye. 

DREDE. 

Sodaynly,  as  he  departed  me  fro, 

Came  pressynge  in  one  in  a  wonder  araye  : 

Er  I  was  ware,  behynde  me  he  sayde,  Bo  !        so" 
Thenne  I,  astonyed  of  that  sodeyne  fraye, 
Sterte  all  at  ones,  I  lyked  no  thynge  his 
playe ; 


THE    BOWGE    OF    COUBTE.  59 

For,  yf  I  had  not  quyckely  fledde  the  touche, 
He  had  plucte  oute  the  nobles  of  my  pouche. 

He  was  trussed  in  a  garmente  strayte  : 
I  haue  not  sene  suche  an  others  page  ; 

For  he  coude  well  vpon  a  casket  wayte  ; 

His  hode  all  pounsed  and  garded  lyke  a  cage  ; 
Lyghte  lyme  fynger,  he  toke  none  other  wage. 

Harken,  quod  he,  loo  here  myne  honde  in  thyne ; 

To  vs  welcome  thou  arte,  by  saynte  Quyntyne.  sn 

DISCEYTE. 

But,  by  that  Lorde  that  is  one,  two,  and  thre, 
I  haue  an  errande  to  rounde  in  your  ere  : 

He  tolde  me  so,  by  God,  ye  maye  truste  me, 
Parte  1  remembre  whan  ye  were  there, 
There  I  wynked  on  you, — wote  ye  not  where  ? 

In  A  loco,  I  menejuxta  B  : 

Woo  is  hym  that  is  blynde  and  maye  not  see ! 

But  to  here  the  subtylte  and  the  crafte, 

As  I  shall  tell  you,  yf  ye  wyll  harke  agayne  ;  520 

And,  whan  I  sawe  the  horsons  wolde  you  hafte, 
To  holde  myne  honde,  by   God,  I  had  grete 

payne  ; 
For  forthvvyth  there  I  had  him  slayne, 

But  that  I  drede  mordre  wolde  come  oute  : 

Who  deleth  with  shrewes  hath  nede  to  loke  aboute. 

i  Parte]  Qy.  "  Parde  "  (Par  dieu—m  sooth) ? 


60         THE  BOWGE  OF  COURTE. 
DBEDE. 

And  as  he  rounded  thus  in  myne  ere 
Of  false  collusyon  confetryd  by  assente, 

Me  thoughte,  I  see  lewde  felawes  here  and  there 
Came  for  to  slee  me  of  mortall  entente  ;  529 
And,  as  they  came,  the  shypborde  faste  I  hente, 

And  thoughte  to  lepe ;  and  euen  with  that  woke, 

Caughte  penne  and  ynke,  and  wrote  thys  lytyll 
boke. 

I  wolde  therwith  no  man  were  myscontente ; 

Besechynge  you  that  shall  it  see  or  rede, 
In  euery  poynte  to  be  indyfferente, 

Syth  all  in  substaunce  of  slumbrynge  doth  pro- 
cede  : 

I  wyll  not  saye  it  is  mater  in  dede, 
But  yet  oftyme  suche  dremes  be  fouude  trewe  : 
Now  constrewe  ye  what  is  the  resydewe. 

Thus  endeth  the  Bowge  of  Courte. 


PHTLLTP    SPAROWE.  61 


HERE   AFTER   FOLOWETH    THE    BOKE    OF 

PHYLLYP   SPAROWE. 

COMPYLED  BY  MAYSTER  SKELTON,   POETE  LAUREATE.* 

Pla  ce  bo, 

Who  is  there,  who  ? 
Di  le  xi, 
Dame  Margery ; 
Fa,  re,  my,  my, 
Wherfore  and  why,  why  ? 
For  the  sowle  of  Philip  Sparowe, 
That  was  late  slayn  at  Carowe, 
Among  the  Nones  Blake, 
For  that  swete  soules  sake,  »o 

And  for  all  sparowes  soules, 
Set  in  our  bederolles, 
Pater  noster  qui, 
With  an  Ave  Mari, 
And  with  the  corner  of  a  Crede, 
The  more  shalbe  your  mede. 
Whan  I  remember  agayn 
How  mi  Philyp  was  slayn, 

*  From  the  ed.  by  Kele,  n.  d.,  collated  with  that  by  Kitson, 
n.  d.  (which  in  some  copies  is  said  to  be  printed  by  Weale,) 
and  with  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  WwTces,  1568. 


62  PHYLLTP    SPAROWE. 

/  / 

Neuerhajfe  the  payne 
Was  betwene  you  twayne, 
Pyramtis  and  Thesbe, 
As  than  befell  to  me  : 
I  wept  and  I  wayled, 
The  tearys  downe  hayled ; 
But  nothynge  it  auayled 
To  call  Phylyp  agayne, 
Whom  Gyb  our  cat  hath  slayne. 

Gib,  I  saye,  our  cat 
Worrowyd  her  on  that 
Which  I  loued  best : 
It  can  not  be  exprest 
My  sorrowfull  heuynesse, 
But  all  without  redresse ; 
For  within  that  stounde, 
Halfe  slumbrynge,  in  a  sounde 
I  fell  downe  to  the  grounde. 

Vnneth  I  kest  myne  eyes 
Towarde  the  cloudy  skyes  : 
But  whan  I  dyd  beholde 
My  sparow  dead  and  colde, 
No  creatuer  but  that  wolde 
Haue  rewed    vpon  me, 
To  behold  and  se 
What  heuynesse  dyd  me  pange  ; 
Wherewith  my  handes  I  wrange, 
That  my  senaws  cracked, 
As  though  I  had  been  racked, 


PHYLLYP    SPAROWE.  63 

So  payned  and  so  strayned, 
That  no  lyfe  wellnye  remayned. 

I  syghed  and  I  sobbed,  so 

For  that  I  was  robbed 
Of  my  sparowes  lyfe. 
0  mayden,  wydow,  and  wyfe, 
Of  what  estate  ye  be, 
Of  hye  or  lowe  degre, 
Great  sorowe  than  ye  myght  se 
And  lerne  to  wepe  at  me  ! 
Such  paynes  dyd  me  frete, 
That  myne  hert  dyd  bete, 
My  vysage  pale  and  dead,  « 

Wanne,  and  blewe  as  lead  ; 
The  panges  of  hatefull  death 
Wellnye  had  stopped  my  breath. 

Jfeu,  /ieu,  me, 
That  I  am  wo  for  the" ! 
Ad  Dominum,  cum  tribularer,  clamavi : 
Of  God  nothynge  els  craue  I 
But  Phyllypes  soule  to  kepe 
From  the  marees  deepe 
Of  Acherontes  well,  70 

That  is  a  node  of  hell ; 
And  from  the  great  Pluto, 
The  prynce  of  endles  wo ; 
And  from  foule  Alecto, 
With  vysage  blacke  and  bio ; 
And  from  Medusa,  that  mare, 
That  lyke  a  fende  doth  stare : 


64  PHYLLTP    SPAROWE. 

And  from  Megeras  edders, 
For  rufflynge  of  Phillips  fathers, 
And  from  her  fyry  sparklynges, 
For  burnynge  of  his  wynges  ; 
And  from  the  smokes  sowre 
Of  Proserpinas  bowre ; 
And  from  the  dennes  darke, 
Wher  Cerberus  doth  barke, 
Whom  Theseus  dyd  afraye, 
Whom  Hercules  dyd  outraye, 
As  famous  poetes  say  ; 
From  that  hell  hounde, 
That  lyeth  in  cheynes  bougie, 
With  gastly  hedes  thre, 
To  Jupyter  pray-  we 
That  Phyllyp  preserued  may  be ! 
Amen,  say  ye  with  me  ! 

Do  mi  nus, 

Helpe  nowe,  swete  Jesus ! 
Levavi  oculos  meos  in  monies : 
Wolde  God  I  had  Zenophontes, 
Or  Socrates  the  wyse, 
To  shew  me  their  deuyse, 
Moderatly  to  take 
This  sorow  that  I  make 
For  Phyllip  Sparowes  sake  ! 
So  feruently  I  shake, 
I  fele  my  body  quake  ; 
So  vrgently  I  am  brought 
Into  carefull  thought. 


PHYLLTP    SPAJIOWE.  65 

Like  Andromach,  Hectors  wyfe, 

Was  wery  of  her  lyfe, 

Whan  she  had  lost  her  ioye,  uo 

Noble  Hector  of  Troye  ; 

In  lyke  maner  also 

Encreaseth  my  dedly  wo, 

For  my  sparovve  is  go. 

It  was  so  prety  a  fole, 
It  wold  syt  on  a  stole, 
And  lerned  after  my  scole 
For  to  kepe  his  cut, 
With,  Phyllyp,  kepe  your  cut ! 

It  had  a  veluet  cap,  120 

And  wold  syt  vpon  my  lap, 
And  seke  after  small  wormes, 
And  somtyme  white  bred  crommes  ; 
And  many  tymes  and  ofte 
Betwene  my  brestes  softe 
It  wolde  lye  and  rest ; 
It  was  propre  and  prest. 

Somtyme  he  wolde  gaspe 
Whan  he  sawe  a  waspe ; 
A  fly  or  a  gnat,  iso 

He  wolde  flye  at  that ; 
And  prytely  he  wold  pant 
Whan  he  saw  an  ant ; 
Lord,  how  he  wolde  pry 
After  the  butterfly ! 
Lorde,  how  he  wolde  hop 
After  the  gressop ! 

VOL.    I.  5 


PHYLLYP    SFAROWE. 

And  whan  I  sayd,  Phyp,  Phyp, 
Than  he  wold  lepe  and  skyp, 
And  take  'me  by  the  lyp. 
Alas,  it  wyll  me  slo, 
That  Phillyp  is  gone  me  fro ! 

Sin  in  i  qui  ta  tes 
Alas,  I  was  euyll  at  ease ! 
De  pro  fun  dis  da  ma  vi, 
Whan  I  sawe  my  sparowe  dye ! 

Nowe,  after  my  dome, 
Dame  Sulpicia  at  Rome, 
Whose  name  regystered  was 
For  euer  in  tables  of  bras, 
Because  that  she  dyd  pas 
In  poesy  to  endyte, 
And  eloquently  to  wryte, 
Though  she  wolde  pretende 
My  sparowe  to  commende, 
I  trowe  she  coude  not  amende 
Reportynge  the  vertues  all 
Of  my  sparowe  royall. 

For  it  wold  come  and  go, 
And  fly  so  to  and  fro ; 
And  on  me  it  wolde  lepe 
Whan  I  was  aslepe, 
And  his  fethers  shake, 
Wherewith  he  wolde  make 
Me  often  for  to  wake, 
And  for  to  take  him  in 
Vpon  my  naked  skyn ; 


PHYLLYP    SPAKOWE.  67 

God  wot,  we  thought  no  syn  :       \ 

What  though  he  crept  so  lowe  ? 

It  was  not  hurt,  I  trowe,  >» 

He  dyd  nothynge  perde 

But  syt  vpon  my  kne  : 

Phyllyp,  though  he  were  nyse, 

In  him  it  was  no  vyse  ; 

Phyllyp  had  leue  to  go 

To  pyke  my  lytell  too ; 

Phillip  myght  be  bolde 

And  do  what  he  wolde  ; 

Phillip  wolde  seke  and  take 

All  the  flees  blake  "» 

That  he  coulde  there  espye 

With  his  wanton 

Opera, 
La,  soil,  fa,  fa, 

Confitebor  tibi,  Domine,  in  toto  corde  meo. 
Alas,  I  wold  ryde  and  go 
A  thousand  myle  of  grounde  ! 
If  any  such  might  be  found, 
It  were  worth  an  hundreth  pound 
Of  kynge  Cresus  golde,  ' 

Or  of  At  talus  the  olde, 
The  ryche  prynce  of  Pargame, 
Who  so  lyst  the  story  to  se. 
Cadmus,  that  his  syster  sought, 
And  he  shold  be  bought 
For  golde  and  fee, 
He  shuld  ouer  the  see, 


68  PHYLLTP    SPAKOWE. 

To  wete  if  he  coulde  brynge 

Auy  of  the  ofsprynge, 

Or  any  of  the  blode. 

But  whoso  vnderstode 

Of  Medeas  arte, 

I  wolde  I  had  a  parte 

Of  her  crafty  magyke  ! 

My  sparowe  than  shuld  be  quycke 

With  a  charme  or  twayne, 

And  playe  with  me  agayne. 

But  all  this  is  in  vayne 

Thus  for  to  coraplayne. 

I  toke  my  sampler  ones, 
Of  purpose,  for  the  nones, 
To  sowe  with  stytchis  of  sylke 
My  sparow  whyte  as  mylke, 
That  by  representacyon 
Of  his  image  and  facyon, 
To  me  it  myght  importe 
Some  pleasure  and  comforte 
For  my  solas  and  sporte  : 
But  whan  I  was  sowing  his  beke, 
Methought  my  sparow  did  speke. 
And  opened  his  prety  byll, 
Saynge,  Mayde,  ye  are  in  wyll 
Agayne  me  for  to  kyll, 
Ye  prycke  me  in  the  head ! 
With  that  my  nedle  waxed  red, 
Methought,  of  Phyllyps  blode ; 
Myne  hear  ryght  vpstode, 


PHYLLYP    SPAROWE.  by 

And  was  in  suche  a  fray, 

My  speche  was  taken  away. 

I  kest  downe  that  there  was,  230 

And  sayd,  Alas,  alas, 

How  commeth  this  to  pas  ? 

My  fyngers,  dead  and  colde, 

Coude  not  my  sampler  holde  ; 

My  nedle  and  threde 

I  threwe  away  for  drede. 

The  best  now  that  I  maye, 

Is  for  his  soule  to  pray  : 

Aporta  inferi, 

Good  Lorde,  haue  mercy  240 

Vpon  my  sparovves  soule, 

Wryten  in  my  bederoule  ! 

Au  di  vi  vo  cem, 
Japhet,  Cam,  and  Sem, 
Ma  gnifi  cat, 
Shewe  me  the  ryght  path 
To  the  hylles  of  Armony, 
Wherfore  the  birdes l  yet  cry 
Of  your  fathers  bote, 

That  was  sometyme  aflote,  250 

And  nowe  they  lye  arid  rote ; 
Let  some  poetes  wryte 
Deucalyons  flode  it  hyght : 
But  as  verely  as  ye  be 
The  naturall  sonnes  thre 

i  birdes]  So  other  eds.    Kele's  ed.  "  bordes,"  -which,  per- 
haps, is  the  right  reading.     See  notes. 


70  PHYLLYP    SPAR  OWE. 

Of  Noe  the  patryarke, 
That  made  that  great  arke, 
Wherin  he  had  apes  and  owles, 
Beestes,  byrdes,  and  foules, 
That  if  ye  can  fynde 
Any  of  my  sparowes  kynde, 
God  send  the  soule  good  rest ! 
I  wolde  haue  yet  a  nest 
As  prety  and  as  prest 
As  my  sparowe  was. 
But  my  sparowe  dyd  pas 
All  the  sparows  of  the  wode  , 
That  were  syns  Noes  flode, 
Was  neuer  none  so  good ; 
Kynge  Phylyp  of  Macedony 
Had  no  such  Phylyp  as  I, 
No,  no,  syr,  hardely. 

That  vengeaunce  I  aske  and  crye, 
By  way  of  exclamacyon, 
On  all  the  hole  nacyon 
Of  cattes  wylde  and  tame  ; 
God  send  them  sorowe  and  shame  ! 
That  cat  specyally 
That  slew  so  cruelly 
My  lytell  prety  sparowe 
That  I  brought  vp  at  Carowe. 

0  cat  of  carlyshe  kynde, 
The  fynde  was  in  thy  mynde 
Whan  thou  my  byrde  vntwynde  I 
I  wold  thou  haddest  ben  blynde ! 


PHYLLYP    SPAROWE.  71 

The  leopardes  sauage, 

The  lyons  in  theyr  rage, 

Myght  catche  the  in  theyr  pawes, 

And  gnawe  the  in  theyr  iawes ! 

The  serpentes  of  Lybany  **> 

Myght  stynge  the  venymously  ! 

The  dragones  with  their  tonges 

Might  poyson  thy  lyuer  aud  longes ! 

The  mantycors  of  the  mountaynes 

Myght  fede  them  on  thy  braynes  ! 

Melanchates,  that  hounde 
That  plucked  Acteon  to  the  grounde, 
Gaue  hym  his  mortall  wounde, 
Chaunged  to  a  dere, 

The  story  doth  appere,  *» 

Was  chaunged  to  an  harte  : 
So  thou,  foule  cat  that  thou  arte, 
The  selfe  same  hounde 
Myght  the  confounde, 
That  his  owne  lord  bote, 
Myght  byte  asondre  thy  throte  ! 

Of  Inde  the  gredy  grypes 
Myght  tere  out  all  thy  trypes  ! 
Of  Arcady  the  beares 

Might  plucke  awaye  thyne  eares  !  310 

The  wylde  wolfe  Lycaon 
Byte  asondre  thy  backe  bone  ! 
Of  Ethna  the  brennynge  hyll, 
That  day  and  night  brenneth  styl 
Set  in  thy  tayle  a  blase, 


72  PHYLLYP    SPAROWE. 

That  all  the  world  may  gase 

And  wonder  vpon  the, 

From  Occyan  Ihe  greate  se 

Vnto  the  lies  of  Orchady, 

From  Tyllbery  fery 

To  the  playne  of  Salysbery ! 

So  trayterously  my  byrde  to  kyll 

That  neuer  ought  the  euyll  wyll ! 

Was  neuer  byrde  in  cage 
More  gentle  of  corage 
In  doynge  his  homage 
Vnto  his  souerayne. 
Alas,  I  say  agayne, 
Deth  hath  departed  vs  twayne  ! 
The  false  cat  hath  the  slayne  : 
Farewell,  Phyllyp,  adew ! 
Our  Lorde  thy  soule  reskew  ! 
Farewell  without  restore, 
Farewell  for  euermore  ! 

And  it  were  a  Jewe, 
It  wolde  make  one  rew, 
To  se  my  sorow  new. 
These  vylanous  false  cattes 
Were  made  for  myse  and  rattes, 
And  not  for  byrdes  smale. 
Alas,  my  face  waxeth  pale, 
Tellynge  this  pyteyus  tale, 
How  my  byrde  so  fayre, 
That  was  wont  to  repayre, 
And  go  in  at  my  spay  re, 


PHTLLYP    SPAROWE.  73 

And  crepe  in  at  my  gore  l 

Of  my  gowne  before, 

Flyckerynge  with  his  wynges  ! 

Alas,  my  hert  it  stynges, 

Kemembrynge  prety  ihynges  !  aso 

Alas,  myne  hert  it  sleth 

My  Phyllyppes  dolefull  deth, 

Whan  I  remembre  it, 

How  pretely  it  wolde  syt, 

Many'tymes  and  ofte 

Vpon  my  fynger  aloft ! 

I  played  with  him  tjrttell  tattyll, 

And  fed  him  with  my  spattyl, 

With  his  byll  betwene  my  lippes ; 

It  was  my  prety  Phyppes  !  aso 

Many  a  prety  kusse 

Had  I  of  his  swete  musse  ; 

And  now  the  cause  is  thus, 

That  he  is  slayne  me  fro, 

To  my  great  payne  and  wo. 

Of  fortune  this  the  chaunce 
Standeth  on  varyaunce  : 
Oft  tyme  after  pleasaunce 
Trouble  and  greuaunce  ; 
No  man  can  be  sure  sro 

Allway  to  haue  pleasure  : 


l  Kitson's  ed. ; 

"  And  often  at  my  spayre 
And  gape  in  at  my  gore" 


74  PHYLLYP    SPAKOWE. 


As  well  perceyue  ye  maye 
How  my  dysport  and  play 
From  me  was  taken  away 
By  Gyb,  our  cat  sauage, 
That  in  a  furyous  rage 
Caught  Phyllyp  by  the  head, 
And  slew  him  there  starke  dead. 
Kyrie,  eleison, 
Christe,  eleison, 
Kyrie,  eleison  ! 
For  Phylyp  Sparowes  soule, 
Set  in  our  bederolle, 
Let  vs  now  whysper 
A  Pater  noster. 

Lauda,  anima  mea,  Dominum  ! 
To  wepe  with  me  loke  that  ye  come, 
All  manner  of  byrdes  in  your  kynd ; 
Se  none  be  left  behynde. 
To  mornynge  loke  that  ye  fall 
With  dolorous  songes  funerall, 
Some  to  synge,  and  some  to  say, 
Some  to  wepe,  and  some  to  pray, 
Euery  byrde  in  his  laye. 
The  goldfynche,  the  waglayle  ; 
The  ianglynge  iay  to  rayle, 
The  fleckyd  pye  to  chatter 
Of  this  dolorous  mater ; 
And  robyn  redbrest, 
He  shall  be  the  preest 
The  requiem  masse  to  synge, 


PHYLLYP    SPAKOWE.  75 

Softly  warbelynge, 

With  helpe  of  the  red  sparow, 

And  the  chattrynge  swallow, 

This  herse  for  to  halow ; 

The  larke  with  his  longe  to ; 

The  spynke,  and  the  martynet  also; 

The  shouelar  with  his  brode  bek  ; 

The  doterell,  that  folyshe  pek, 

And  also  the  mad  coote,  «o 

With  a  balde  face  to  toote ; 

The  feldefare,  and  the  snyte ; 

The  crowe,  and  the  kyte ; 

The  rauyn,  called  Rolfe, 

His  playne  songe  to  solfe ; 

The  partryche,  the  quayle ; 

The  plouer  with  vs  to  wayle  ; 

The  woodhacke,  that  syngeth  chur 

Horsly,  as  he  had  the  mur ; 

The  lusty  chauntyng  nyghtyngale ;  *» 

The  popyngay  to  tell  her  tale, 

That  toteth  oft  in  a  glasse, 

Shal  rede  the  Gospell  at  masse  ; 

The  mauys  with  her  whystell 

Shal  rede  there  the  pystell. 

But  with  a  large  and  a  longe 

To  kepe  iust  playne  songe, 

Our  chaunters  shalbe  the  cuckoue, 

The  culuer,  the  stockedovvue, 

With  puwyt  the  lapwyng,  430 

The  versycles  shall  syng. 


76  PHTLLYP    SPAROWE. 

The  bitter  with  his  bumpe, 
The  crane  with  his  trumpe, 
The  swan  of  Menander, 
The  gose  and  the  gander, 
The  ducke  and  the  drake, 
Shall  watche  at  this  wake ; 
The  pecocke  so  prowde, 
Bycause  his  voyce  is  lowde, 
And  hath  a  glorious  tayle, 
He  shall  syng  the  grayle  ; 
The  owle,  that  is  so  foule, 
Must  helpe  vs  to  houle ; 
The  heron  so  gaunce, 
And  the  cormoraunce, 
"With  the  fesaunte, 
And  the  gaglynge  gaunte, 
And  the  churlysshe  chowgh  ; 
The  route  and  the  kowgh ; 
The  barnacle,  the  bussarde, 
With  the  wilde  mallarde ; 
The  dyuendop  to  slepe ; 
The  water  hen  to  wepe ; 
The  puffin  and  the  tele 
Money  they  shall  dele 
To  poore  folke  at  large, 
That  shall  be  theyr  charge  ; 
The  seraewe  and  the  tytmose  ; 
The  wodcocke  with  the  longe  nose 
The  threstyl  with  her  warblyng ; 
The  starlyng  with  her  brablyng ; 


PHYLLYP    SFAUOWE.  77 

The  roke,  with  the  ospraye 
That  putteth  fysshes  to  a  fraye  ; 
And  the  denty  curlewe, 
With  the  turtyll  most  trew. 

At  this  Placebo 
We  may  not  well  forgo 
The  countrynge  of  the  coe  : 
The  storke  also, 

That  maketh  his  nest  <ro 

In  chymneyes  to  rest ; 
Within  those  walles 
No  broken  galles 
May  there  abyde 
Of  cokoldry  syde, 
Of  els  phylosophy 
Maketh  a  great  lye. 

The  estryge,  that  wyll  eate 
An  horshowe  so  great, 

In  the  stede  of  meate,  «o 

Such  feruent  heat 
His  stomake  doth  freat ; 
He  can  not  well  fly, 
Nor  syn.ge  tunably, 
Yet  at  a  brayde 
He  hath  well  assayde 
To  solfe  aboue  ela, 
Ga,1  lorell,  fa,  fa  ; 

Ne  quando  «o 

Male  cantando, 

i  Ga]  JIarshe's  ed.  "Fa." 


78  PHYLLTP    SPAROWE. 

The  best  that  we  can, 
To  make  hym  our  belraan, 
And  let  hym  ryng  the  bellys  ; 
He  can  do  nothyng  ellys. 
—  Chaunteclere,  our  coke, 
Must  tell  what  is  of  the  clocke 
By  the  ostrology 
That  he  hath  naturally 
Conceyued  and  cought, 
And  was  neuer  tought 
By  Albumazer 
The  astronomer, 
Nor  by  Ptholomy 
Prince  of  astronomy, 
Nor  yet  by  Haly ; 
And  yet  he  croweth  dayly 
And  nightly  the  tydes 
That  no  man  abydes, 
-With  Partlot  his  hen, 
Whom  now  and  then 
Hee  plucketh  by  the  hede 
Whan  he  doth  her  trede. 
The  byrde  of  Araby, 
That  potencyally 
May  neuer  dye, 
And  yet  there  is  none 
But  one  alone ; 
~"  A  phenex  it  is 
This  herse  that  must  blys 
With  armatycke  gummes 


PHYLLTP    SPAROWE.  79 

That  cost  great  summes, 

The  way  of  thurifycation 

To  make  a  fumigation, 

Swete  of  reflary,1 

And  redolent  of  eyre, 

This  corse  for  to  sence 

With  greate  reuerence, 

As  patryarke  or  pope 

In  a  blacke  cope ; 

Whyles  2  he  senseth  [the  herse],  ™ 

He  shall  synge  the  verse, 

Libera  me, 

In  de,  la,  soil,  re, 

Softly  bemole 

'For  my  sparowes  soule. 

Plinni  sheweth  all 

In  his  story  naturall 

What  he  doth  fynde 

Of  the  phenyx  kynde  ; 

Of  whose  incyneracyon  540 

There  ryseth  a  new  creacyon 

Of  the  same  facyon 

Without  alteracyon, 

Sauyng  that  olde  age 

Is  turned  into  corage 

Of  fresshe  youth  agayne  ; 

This  matter  trew  and  playne, 


1  reflary]  Qy.  "  reflayre  ?  " 

2  Wlnjles,  &c.]  So,  perhaps,  Skelton  wrote:  the  line  is  im- 
perfect in  eds. 


80  PHYLLTP    SPAROWE. 

Playne  matter  indede, 
Who  so  lyst  to  rede./ 

But  for  the  egle  doth  flye 
Hyest  in  the  skye, 
He  shall  be  the  scdeane, 
The  quere  to  demeane, 
As  prouost  pryncypall, 
To  teach  them  theyr  ordynall ; 
Also  the  noble  fawcon, 
With  the  gerfawcon, 
The  tarsell  gentyll, 
They  shall  morne  soft  and  styll 
In  theyr  amysse  of  gray  ; 
The  sacre  with  them  shall  say 
Dirige  for  Phyllyppes  soule  ; 
The  goshauke  shall  haue  a  role 
The  queresters  to  controll ; 
The  lanners  and  the  marlyons 
Shall  stand  in  their  morning  gounes  ; 
The  hobby  and  the  muskette 
The  sensers  and  the  crosse  shall  fet ; 
The  kestrell  in  all  this  warke 
Shall  be  holy  water  clarke. 

And  now  the  darke  cloudy  nyght 
Chaseth  away  Phebus  bryght, 
Taking  his  course  toward  the  west, 
God  sende  my  sparoes  sole  good  rest ! 
Requiem  teternam  dona  eis,  Domine  ! 
Fa,  fa,  fa,  my,  re,  re, 
A  por  ta  in  fe  ri, 


PHYLLYP    SPAROWE.  81 

Fa,  fa,  fa,  my,  my. 

Credo  videre  bona  Domini, 
I  pray  God,  Phillip  to  heuen  may  fly  !       sso 
Domine,  exaudi  orationem  meam  ! . 
To  heuen  he  shall,  from  heuen  he  cam ! 

Do  mi  nus  vo  bis  cum! 
Of  al  good  praiers  God  send  him  sum ! 

Oremus. 

Deus,  cui  proprium  est  misereri  et  parcere, 
On  Phillips  soule  haue  pyte ! 
For  he  was  a  prety  cocke, 
And  came  of  a  gentyll  stocke, 
And  wrapt  in  a  maidenes  smocke,  •  sw 

And  cherysshed  full  dayntely, 
Tyll  cruell  fate  made  him  to  dy : 
Alas,  for  dolefull  desteny ! 
But  whereto  shuld  I 
Lenger  morne  or  crye  ? 
To  Jupyter  I  call, 
Of  heuen  emperyall, 
That  Phyllyp  may  fly 
Aboue  the  starry  sky, 

To  treade  the  prety  wren,  soo 

That  is  our  Ladyes  hen: 
Amen,  amen,  amen ! 

Yet  one  thynge  is  behynde, 
That  now  commeth  to  mynde  ; 
An  epytaphe  I  wold  haue 
For  Phyllyppes  graue : 
But  for  I  am  a  mayde, 
VOL.  i.  6 


! 

PHTLLYP    SPAROWE. 

Tymerous,  halfe  afrayde, 
That  neuer  yet  asayde 
Of  Elyconys  well, 
"Whore  the  Muses  dwell ; 
Though  I  can  rede  and  spell, 
Recounte,  reporte,  and  tell 
.  Of  the  Tales  of  Caunterbury, 
Some  sad  storyes,  some(mery 
As  Palamon  and  Arcet, 
Duke  Theseus,  and  Partelet ; 
And  of  the  Wyfe  of  Bath, 
That  worketh  moch  scath 
Whan  her  tale  is  tolde 
Amonge  huswyues  bolde, 
How  she  controlde 
Her  husbandes  as  she  wolde, 
And  them  to  despyse 
In  the  homylyest  wyse, 
Brynge  other  wyues  in  thought 
Their  husbandes  to  set  at  nought" 
And  though  that  rede  haue  I 
Of  Gawen  and  syr  Gay, 
And  tell  can  a  great  pece 
Of  the  Golden  Flece, 
How  Jason  it  wan, 
Lyke  a  valyaunt  man  ; 
Of  Arturs  rounde  table, 
With  his  knightes  commendable, 
And  dame  Gaynour,  his  quene, 
Was  somewhat  wanton,  I  wene ; 


PHTLLYP    SPAROWE.  83 

How  syr  Launcelote  de  Lake 

Many  a  spere  brake 

For  his  ladyes  sake  ;  «o 

Of  Trystram.  and  kynge  Marke, 

And  al  the  hole  warke 

Of  Bele  Isold  his  wyfe, 

For  whom  was  moch  stryfe ; 

Some  say  she  was  lyght, 

And  made  her  husband  knyght 

Of  the  comyne  hall, 

That  cuckoldes  men  call ; 

And  of  syr  Lybius, 

Named  Dysconius  ;  «o 

Of  Quater  Fylz  Amund, 

And  how  they  were  sommonde 

To  Rome,  to  Charlemayne, 

Vpon  a  great  payne, 

And  how  they  rode  eche  one 

On  Bayarde  Mountalbon ; 

Men  se  hym  now  and  then 

In  the  forest  of  Arden  : 

What  though  I  can  frame 

The  storyes  by  name  «eo 

Of  Judas  Machabeus, 

And  of  Cesar  Julious  ; 

And  of  the  loue  betwene 

Paris  and  Vyene ; 

And  of  the  duke  Hannyball, 

That  made  the  Romaynes  all 

Fordrede  and  to  quake  ; 

How  Scipion  dyd  wake 


84  PHTLLTP    SPAROWE. 

The  cytye  of  Cartage, 
Which  by  his  vnmerciful  rage 
He  bete  down  to  the  grounde : 
And  though  I  can  expounde 
Of  Hector  of  Troye, 
That  was  all  theyr  ioye, 
Whom  Achylles  slew, 
Wherfore  all  Troy  dyd  rew ; 
And  of  the  loue  so  hote 
That  made  Troylus  to  dote 
Vpon  fayre  Cressyde, 
And  what  they  wrote  and  sayd, 
And  of  theyr  wanton  wylles 
Pandaer  bare  the  bylles 
From  one  to  the  other  ; 
His  maisters  loue  to  further, 
Somtyme  a  presyous  thyng, 
An  ouche,  or  els  a  ryng ; 
From  her  to  hym  agayn 
Somtyme  a  prety  chayn, 
Or  a  bracelet  of  her  here, 
Prayd  Troylus  for  to  were 
That  token  for  her  sake  ; 
How  hartely  he  dyd  it  take, 
And  moche  therof  dyd  make ; 
And  all  that  was  in  vayne, 
For  she  dyd  but  fayne  ; 
The  story  telleth  playne, 
He  coulde  not  optayne, 
Though  his  father  were  a  kyng, 
Yet  there  was  a  thyng 


PHYLLYP    SPAROWE.  85 

That  made  the  male  to  wryng;  TOO 

She  made  him  to  syng 

The  song  of  louers  lay  ; 

Musyng  nyght  and  day, 

Mournynge  all  alone, 

Comfort  had  he  none, 

For  she  was  quyte  gone  ; 

Thus  in  conclusyon, 

She  brought  him  in  abusyon  ; 

In  ernest  and  in  game 

She  was  moch  to  blame ;  no 

Disparaged  is  her  fame, 

And  blemysshed  is  her  name, 

In  maner  half  with  shame  ; 

Troylus  also  hath  lost 

On  her  moch  loue  and  cost, 

And  now  must  kys  the  post ; 

Pandara,  that  went  betvvene, 

Hath  won  nothing,  I  wene, 

But  lyght  for  somer  grene  ; 

Yet  for  a  speciall  laud 

He  is  named  Troylus  baud, 

Of  that  name  he  is  sure 

Whyles  the  world  shall  dure  : 

Though  I  remembre  the  fable 
Of  Penelope  most  stable 
To  her  husband  most  trew, 
Yet  long  tyrne  she  ne  knew 
Whether  he  were  on  lyue  or  ded ; 
Her  wyt  stood  her  in  sted, 


PHTLLTP    SPAROWE. 

That  she  was  true  and  iust 

For  any  bodely  lust 

To  Ulixes  her  make, 

And  neuer  wold  him  forsake : 

Of  Marcus  Marcullus 
A  proces  I  could  tell  vs ; 
And  of  Anteocus  ; 
And  of  Josephus 
De  Antiquitatibus  ; 
And  of  Mardocheus, 
And  of  great  Assuerus, 
And  of  Vesca  his  queene, 
Whom  he  forsoke  with  teene, 
And  of  Hester  his  other  wyfe, 
With  whom  he  ledd  a  plesaunt  life  ; 
Of  kyng  Alexander ; 
And  of  kyng  Euander ; 
And  of  Porcena  the  great, 
That  made  the  Romayns  to  sweat  :* 

Though  I  haue  enrold 
A  thousand  new  and  old 
Of  these  historious  tales, 
To  fyll  bougets  and  males 
With  bokes  that  I  haue  red, 
Yet  I  am  nothyng  sped, 
And  can  but  lytell  skyll 
Of  Ouyd  or  Virgyll, 
Or  of  Plutharke, 
Or  Frauncys  Petrarke. 

i  sweat]  Eds.  "  smart." 


PHYLLYP    SPAROWE.  87 

Alcheus  or  Sapho, 

Or  such  other  poetes  mo,  "o 

As  Linus  and  Homerus, 

Euphorion  and  Theocritus, 

Anacreon  and  Arion, 

Sophocles  and  Philemon, 

Pyndarus  and  Symonides, 

Philistion  and  Phorocides ; 

These  poetes  of  auncyente, 

They  ar  to  diffuse  for  me : 

For,  as  I  tofore  haue  sayd, 
I  am  but  a  yong  mayd,  *    TTO 

And  cannot  in  effect 
My  style  as  yet  direct 
With  Englysh  wordes  elect: 
Our  natural!  tong  is  rude, 
.  And  hard  to  be  enneude 
With  pullysshed  termes  lusty ; 
Our  language  is  so  rusty, 
So  cankered,  and  so  full 
Of  frowardes,  and  so  dull, 
That  if  I  wolde  apply  ™> 

To  wryte  ornatly, 
I  wot  not  where  to  fynd 
Termes  to  serue  my  mynde 

Gowers  Englysh  is  olde,  • 
And  of  no  value  told  ; 
His  mater  is  worth  gold, 
And  worthy  to  be  enrold. 

In  Chauser  I  am  sped, 
His  tales  I  haue  red  : 


PHTLLTP    SPAROWE. 

His  mater  is  delectable, 
Solacious,  and  commendable ; 
His  Englysh  well  alowed, 
So  as  it  is  enprowed, 
For  as  it  is  en  ployed, 
There  is  no  Englysh  voyd, 
At  those  dayes  moch  commended, 
And  now  men  wold  haue  amended 
His  Englysh,  whereat  they  barke, 
And  mar  all  they  warke  : 
Chaucer,  that  famus  clerke, 
His  termes  were  not  darke, 
But  plesaunt,  easy,  and  playne ; 
No  worde  he  wrote  in  vayne. 

Also  Johnn  Lydgate 
Wryteth  after  an  hyer  rate  ; 
It  is  dyffuse  to  fynde 
The  sentence  of  his  mynde, 
Yet  wryteth  he  in  his  kynd, 
No  man  that  can  amend 
Those  maters  that  he  hath  pende  ; 
Yet  some  men  fynde  a  faute, 
And  say  he  wryteth  to  haute. 
Wherfore  hold  me  excused 
If  I  haue  not  well  perused 
Myne  Englyssh  halfe  abused ; 
Though  it  be  refused, 
In  worth  I  shall  it  take, 
And  fewer  wordes  make. 
But,  for  my  sparowes  sake, 


PHYLLYP    SPAR  OWE. 

Yet  as  a  woman  may, 
My  wyt  I  shall  assay 
An  epytaphe  to  w-ryght 
In  Latyne  playne  and  lyght, 
Wherof  the  elegy 
Foloweth  by  and  by  : 
Flos  volucrum  formose,  vale  ! 
Philippe,  sub  isto 
Marmorejam  recubas, 
Qui  mihi  cams  eras. 
Semper  erunt  nitido 
Radiantia  sidera  ccelo  ; 
Impressusque  meo 
Pectore  semper  eris. 
Per  me  laurigerum 
Britonum  Skeltonida  vatem 
ffcec  cecinisse  licet 
Ficta  sub  imagine  texta. 
Cuju's  eras 1  volucris, 
Prcestanti  corpore  virgo  ; 
Candida  Nais  erat, 
Formosior  ista  Joanna  est ; 
Docta  Ccrinnafuit, 
Sed  magis  ista  sapit. 
Bien  men  souient. 

i  eras]  Eds.  "  eris." 


90  PHTLLYP    SPAROWE. 

THE    COMMENDACIOXS. 

Seati  im  ma  cu  la  ti  in  via, 
0  gloriosa  fcemina  ! 
Now  myne  hole  imagination 
And  studyous  medytacion 
Is  to  take  this  commendacyon 
In  this  cousyderacion ; 
And  vnder  pacyent  tolleracyon 
Of  that  most  goodly  mayd 
That  Placebo  hath  sayd, 
And  for  her  sparow  prayd 
In  lamentable  wyse, 
Now  wyll  I  enterpryse, 
Thorow  the  grace  dyuyne 
Of  the  Muses  nyne, 
Her  beautye  to  commende, 
If  Arethusa  wyll  send 
Me  enfluence  to  endyte, 
And  with  my  pen  to  wryte ; 
If  Apollo  wyll  promyse, 
Melodyously  it  to  deuyse, 
His  tunable  harpe  stryngges 
With  armony  that  synges 
Of  princes  and  of  kynges 
And  of  all  pleasaunt  thynges, 
Of  lust  and  of  delyght, 
Thorow  his  godly  myght ; 
To  whom  be  the  laude  ascrybed 
That  my  pen  hath  enbybed 


PHYLLTP    SPAROWE.  91 

With  the  aureat  droppes, 

As  verely  my  hope  is, 

Of  Thagus,  that  golden  flod, 

That  passeth  all  erthly  good ; 

And  as  that  flode  doth  pas 

Al  floodes  that  euer  was 

With  his  golden  sandes, 

Who  so  that  vnderstandes  «> 

Cosmography,  and  the  stremys 

And  the  floodes  in  straunge  remes, 

Ryght  so  she  doth  excede 

All  other  of  whom  we  rede, 

Whose  fame  by  me  shall  sprede 

Into  Perce  and  Mede, 

From  Brytons  Albion 

To  the  Tow  re  of  Babilon. 

I  trust  it  is  no  shame, 
And  no  man  wyll  me  blame,  w 

Though  I  regester  her  name 
In  the  courte  of  Fame  ; 
For  this  most  goodly  floure, 
This  blossome  of  fresshe  coulour, 
So  Jupiter  me  socour, 
She  floryssheth  new  and  new 
In  bewte  and  vertew  ; 
Hac  claritate  gemina 
0  gloriosa  foemina, 

JRetribue  servo  tuo,  vivifica  me  !  wo 

Labia  mea  laudabunt  te. 

But  enforsed  am  I 


92  PHTLLYP    SPAROWE. 

Openly  to  askry, 

And  to  make  an  outcri 

Against  odyous  Enui, 

That  euermore  wil  ly, 

And  say  cursedly ; 

With  his  ledder  ey, 

And  chekes  dry ; 

With  vysage  wan, 

As  swarte  as  tan  ; 

His  bones  crake, 

Leane  as  a  rake  ; 

His  gummes  rusty 

Are  full  vnlusty ; 

Hys  herte  withall 

Bytter  as  gall ; 

His  lyuer,  his  longe 

With  anger  is  wronge  ; 

His  serpentes  tonge 

That  many  one  hath  stonge ; 

He  frowneth  euer ; 

He  laugheth  neuer, 

Euen  nor  morow, 

But  other  mennes  sorow 

Causeth  him  to  gryn 

And  reioyce  therin  ; 

No  slepe  can  him  catch, 

But  euer  doth  watch. 

He  is  so  bete 

With  malyce,  and  frete 

With  angre  and  yre, 

His  foule  desyre 


PHYLLYP    SFAROWE.  93 

Wyll  sufFre  no  slepe 

In  his  lied  to  crepe ; 

His  foule  semhlaunt 

All  displeasaunte ; 

Whan  other  ar  glad, 

Than  is  he  sad  ; 

Frantyke  and  mad  ;  9W 

His  tong  neuer  styll 

For  to  say  yll, 

Wrythyng  and  wringyng, 

Bytyng  and  styngyng ; 

And  thus  this  elf 

Consumeth  himself, 

Hymself  doth  slo 

Wyth  payne  and  wo. 

This  fals  Enuy 

Sayth  that  I  «o 

Vse  great  folly 

For  to  endyte, 

And  for  to  wryte, 

And  spend  my  tyme 

In  prose  and  ryme, 

For  to  expres 

The  noblenes 

Of  my  maistres, 

That  cause th  me 

Studious  to  be  «" 

To  make  a  relation 

Of  her  commendation ; 

And  there  agayne 


94  PHTLLYP    SPAROWE. 

Enuy  doth  complayne, 
And  hath  disdayne ; 
But  yet  certayne 
I  wyll  be  playne, 
And  my  style  dres 
To  this  prosses. 

Now  Phebus  me  ken 
To  sharpe  my  pen, 
And  lede  my  fyst 
As  hym  best  lyst, 
That  I  may  say 
Honour  alway 
Of  womankynd ! 
Trouth  doth  me  bynd 
And  loyalte 
Euer  to  be 
Their  true  bedell, 
To  wryte  and  tell 
How  women  excell 
In  noblenes ; 
As  my  maistres, 
Of  whom  I  thynk 
With  pen  and  ynk 
For  to  compyle 
Some  goodly  style ; 
For  this  most  goodly  floure, 
This  blossome  of  fresh  coloure, 
So  Jupyter  me  socoure, 
She  flourissheth  new  and  new 
In  beaute  and  vertew : 


PHYLLYP    SPAROWE.  95 

Hac  claritate  gemina 
0  gloriosafcemina, 
Legem  pone  mihi,  domina,  in  viam  jus- 

tificationum  tuarum! 
Quemadmodum  desiderat   cervus   ad 
fontes    aquarum. 

How  shall  I  report 
All  the  goodly  sort 

Of  her  i'etures  clere,  1000 

That  hath  non  erthly  pere  ? 
Her  i  fauour  of  her  face 
Ennewed  all  with  grace, 
Confer t,  pleasure,  and  solace, 
Myne  hert  doth  so  enbrace, 
And  so  hath  rauyshed  me 
Her  to  behold  and  se, 
That  in  wordes  playne 
I  cannot  me  refrayne 
To  loke  on  her  agayne  :  »«o 

Alas,  what  shuld  I  fayne  ? 
It  wer  a  plesaunt  payne 
With  her  aye  to  remayne. 

Her  eyen  gray  and  stepe 
Caus.eth  myne  hert  to  lepe ; 
With  her  browes  bent 
She  may  well  represent 
Fayre  Lucres,  as  I  wene, 
Or  els  fayre  Polexene, 


96  PHTLLYP    SPAROWE. 

Or  els  Caliope, 

Or  els  Penolope ; 

For  this  most  goodly  floure, 

This  blossome  of  fresshe  coloure, 

So  Jupiter  me  socoure, 

She  florisheth  new  end  new 

In  beautye  and  vertew  : 

Hoc  claritate  gemina 

0  gloriosa  foemina, 

Memor  esto  verbi  tui  servo  tuo  ! 

Servus  tuus  sum  ego. 

The  Indy  saphyre  blew 
Her  vaynes  doth  ennew  ; 
The  orient  perle  so  clere, 
The  whytnesse  of  her  lere ; 
The  *  lusty  ruby  ruddes 
Resemble  the  rose  buddes ; 
Her  lyppes  soft  and  mery 
Emblomed  lyke  the  chery, 
It  were  an  heuenly  blysse 
Her  sugred  mouth  to  kysse. 

Her  beautye  to  augment, 
Dame  Nature  hath  her  lent 
A  warte  vpon  her  cheke, 
Who  so  lyst  to  seke 
In  her  vysage  a  skar, 
That  semyth  from  afai 
Lyke  to  the  radyant  star, 
All  with  fauour  fret, 

1  The]  Qy.  "Her?" 


PHYLLTP    SFAROWE.  97 

So  properly  it  is  set : 

She  is  the  vyolet,  io» 

The  daysy  delectable, 

The  columbine  commendable, 

The  ielof'er  amyable ; 

[For]  1  this  most  goodly  floure, 

This  blossom  of  t'ressh  colour, 

So  Jupiter  me  succour, 

She  florysheth  new  and  new 

In  beaute  and  vertew : 

Hoc  claritate  gemina 

0  gloriosa  fcemina,  ioso 
Boni tatem  fecisti  cum  servo  tuo,  domina, 

Et  ex  prcecordiis  sonant  prceconia  ! 

And  whan  I  perceyued 
Her  wart  and  conceyued, 
It  cannot  be  denayd 
But  it  was  well  conuayd, 
And  set  so  womanly, 
And  nothynge  wantonly, 
But  ryglit  conuenyently, 
And  full  congruently,  mo 

As  Nature  cold  deuyse, 
In  most  goodly  wyse ; 
Who  so  lyst  beholde, 
It  makethe  louers  bolde 
To  her  to  sewe  for  grace, 
Pier  fauoure  to  purchase ; 

1  [For\  Compare  vv.  989, 1022,  1083,  1107,  &c. 
VOL.   I.  7 


98  PHYLLYP    SPAROWE. 

The  sker  upon  her  chyn, 

Enhached  on  her  fayre  skyn, 

Whyter  than  the  swan, 

It  wold  make  any  man  wwc 

To  forget  deadly  syn 

Her  fauour  to  wyn  ; 

For  this  most  goodly  floure, 

This  blossom  of  fressh  coloure, 

So  Jupiter  me  socoure, 

She  flouryssheth  new  and  new 

In  beaute  and  vertew  : 

Hoc  claritate  gemina 

0  gloriosa  foemina, 

Defecit  in  salutatione  tua  *  anima  mea  ;    1090 

Quid  petis  filio,  mater  dulcissima?  babce  !  2 

Soft,  and  make  no  dyn, 
For  now  I  wyll  begyn 
To  haue  in  remembraunce 
Her  goodly  dalyaunce, 
And  her  goodly  pastaunce : 
So  sad  and  so  demure, 
Behauynge  her  so  sure, 
With  vvordes  of  pleasure 
She  wold  make  to  the  lure  »« 

And  any  man  conuert 
To  gyue  her  his  hole  hert. 


isalulalione  tua]    Eds.  "salutare  tuum"  and  "salutate 
tuum." 

Eds.  "baba." 


PHYLLYP    SPAROWE. 

She  made  me  sore  amased 

Vpon  her  whan  I  gased, 

Me  thought  min  hert  was  erased, 

My  eyne  were  so  dased ; 

For  this  most  goodly  flour, 

This  blossom  of  fressh  colour, 

So  Jupyter  me  sooour, 

She  flouryssheth  new  and  new  » 

In  beauty  and  vertew : 

Hac  claritate  gemina 

0  gloriosa  fcemina, 

Quomodo  dilexi  legem  tuam,  domina! 
Recedant  vetera,  nova  sint  omnia. 

And  to  amende  her  tale, 
Whan  she  lyst  to  auale, 
And  with  her  fyngers  smale, 
And  handes  soft  as  sylke, 
Whyter  than  the  mylke,  » 

That  are  so  quyckely  vayned, 
Wherwyth  my  hand  she  strayned, 
Lorde.  how  I  was  payned  ! 
Vnneth  I  me  refrayned, 
How  she  me  had  reclaymed, 
And  me  to  her  retayned, 
Enbrasynge  therwithall 
Her  goodly  myddell  small 
With  sydes  longe  and  streyte ; 
To  tell  you  what  conceyte  n 

1  had  than  in  a  tryce, 
The  matter  were  to  nyse, 
And  yet  there  was  no  vyce, 


100  PHTLLYP    SPAKOWE. 

Nor  yet  no  villany, 

But  only  fantasy  ; 

For  this  most  goodly  floure, 

This  blossom  of  fressh  coloure, 

So  Jupiter  me  succoure, 

She  floryssheth  new  and  new 

In  beaute  and  vertew  : 

Hac  claritate  gemina 

0  gloriosa  fcemina, 

Iniquos  odio  habui  ! 

Non  calumnientur  me  superbi.J 

But  whereto  shulde  I  note 
How  often  dyd  I  tote 
Vpon  her  prety  fote  ? 
It  raysed  myne  hert  rote 
To  se  her  treade  the  grounde 
With  heles  short  and  rounde. 
She  is  playnly  expresse 
Egeria,  the  goddesse, 
And  lyke  to  her  image, 
Emportured  with  corage, 
A  louers  pylgrimage ; 
Ther  is  no  beest  sauage, 
Ne  no  tyger  so  wood, 
But  she  wolde  chaunge  his  mood, 
Such  relucent  grace 
Is  formed  in  her  face ; 
For  this  most  goodly  floure, 
,  This  blossome  of  fresshe  coloure, 

So  Jupiter  me  succour, 


PHYLLTP    SPAROWE.  101 

She  flouryssheth  new  and  new 
In  beaute  and  vertew  : 
Hac  claritate  gemina 
0  gloriosa  fcemina, 
Miralilia  testimonies  tua  ! 
Sicut  novella  plantationes  in  juventute  sua. 
So  goodly  as  she  dresses,  uro 

So  properly  she  presses 
The  bryght  golden  tresses 
Of  her  heer  so  fyne, 
Lyke  Phebus  beames  shyne. 
Wherto  shuld  I  disclose 
The  garterynge  of  her  hose  ? 
It  is  for  to  suppose 
How  that  she  can  were 
Gorgiously  her  gore ; 

Her  fresshe  habylementes  iia> 

With  other  implementes 
To  serue  for  all  ententes, 
Lyke  dame  Flora,  quene 
Of  lusty  somer  grene  ; 
For  this  most  goodly  floure, 
This  blossom  of  fressh  coloure, 
So  Jupiter  me  socoure, 
She  florisheth  new  and  new 
In  beautye  and  vertew: 
Hac  claritate  gemina  uw 

0  gloriosa  fcemina, 
Olamavi  in  toto  corde,  exaudi  me  ! 
Misericordia  tua  magna  est  super  me. 


102  PHYLLYP    SPAROWE. 

Her  kyrtell  so  goodly  lased, 
And  vnder  that  is  brased  - 
Such  plasures  that  I  may 
Neyther  wryte  nor  say  ; 
Yet  though  I  wryte  not  with  ynke, 
No  man  can  let  me  thynke, 
For  thought  hath  lyberte, 
Thought  is  franke  and  fre ; 
To  thynke  a  niery  thought 
It  cost  me  lytell  nor  nought. 
Wolde  God  myne  homely  style 
Were  pullysshed  with  the  fyle 
Of  Ciceros  eloquence, 
To  prase  her  excellence ! 
For  this  most  goodly  floure, 
This  blossome  of  fressh  coloure, 
So  Jupiter  me  succoure, 
She  flouryssheth  new  and  new 
In  beaute  and  vertew: 
Hac  claritate  gemina 
0  gloriosa  foemina, 
Principes  persecuti  sunt  me  gratis  ! 
Omnibus  consideratis, 
Paradisus  voluptatis 
Heec  virgo  est  dulcissima, 

My  pen  it  is  vnable, 
My  hand  it  is  vnstable, 
My  reson  rude  and  dull 
To  prayse  her  at  the  full ; 
Goodly  maystres  Jane, 
Sobre,  demure  Dyane ; 


PHYLLYP    SPABOWE.  103 

Jane  this  inaystres  hyght 

The  lode  star  of  delyght, 

Dame  Venus  of  all  pleasure, 

The  well  of  worldly  treasure  ; 

She  doth  excede  and  pas 

In  prudence  dame  Pallas  ;  wso 

[For]  this  most  goodly  floure, 

This  blossome  of  fresshe  colour, 

So  Jupiter  me  socoure, 

She  floryssheth  new  and  new 

In  beaute  and  vertew  : 

Hac  claritate  gemina 

0  gloriosa  foemina  ! 

Requiem  "frrnam  dona  eis,  Domine! 
With  this  psalme,  Domine,  probasti  me, 
Shall  sayle  ouer  the  see,  i«o 

With  Tibi,  Domine,  commendamus, 
On  pylgrimage  to  saynt  Jamys, 
For  sarympes,  aad  for  prayns, 
And  for  stalkynge  cranys  ; 
And  where  my  pen  hath  offendyd, 

1  pray  you  it  may  be  amendyd 
By  discrete  consyderacyon 

Of  your  wyse  reformacyon  ; 

I  haue  not  offended,  I  trust, 

If  it  be  sadly  dyscust.  ««o 

It  were  no  gentle  gyse 

This  treatyse  to  despyse 

Because  I  haue  wrytten  and  sayd 

Honour  of  this  fayre  niayd  ; 


104  PHYLLYP   SPAR  OWE. 

Wherefore  shulde  I  be  blamed, 
That  I  Jane  haue  named, 
And  famously  proclamed  ? 
She  is  worthy  to  be  enrolde 
"With  letters  of  golde. 

Car  elk  vault.  izw 

Per  me  laurigerum  Britonum  Skeltonida  vatem 
Laudibus  eximiis  merito  hcec  redimita  puella  est  : 
Formosam  cecini,  qua  non  formosior  ulla  est ; 
Formosam  potius  quam  commendaret  Homerus. 
Sicjuvat  interdum  rigidos  recreare  labores, 
Nee  minus  hoc  titulo  tersa  Minerva  mea  est. 
Bien  qu°  play  *c  re. 
aijn 

. 
Thus  endeth  the  bo  ,  .4  .   ,   'narow,  and  Jtere 

foloweth  an  adu  .._  ,'nter  Skelton. 

The  gyse  n,      •  • 
Of  some  ianglynge  layes 
Is  to  discommende  12™ 

That  they  cannot  amend, 
Though  they  wold  spend 
All  the  wyttes  they  haue. 

"What  ayle  them  to  depraue 
Phillip  Sparowes  graue  ? 
His  Dirige,  her  Commendacyon 
Can  be  no  derogacyon, 
But  myrth  and  consolacyon 
Made  by  protestacyon, 


PHTLLTP    SPAROWE.  105 

No  man  to  myscontent  iaso 

With  Phillyppes  enterement. 

Alas,  that  goodly  mayd, 
Why  shuld  she  be  afrayde  ? 
Why  shuld  she  take  shame 
That  her  goodly  name, 
Honorably  reported, 
Sholde  be  set  and  sorted, 
To  be  matriculate 
With  ladyes  of  estate  ? 

I  coniure  the,  Phillip  Sparow,  isw 

By  Hercules  that  hell  dyd  harow, 
And  with  a  venemous  arow 
Slew  of  the  ^ 
One  of  tin  VN 

Or  Onoc  i 

Or  Hipr 

By  who-  .  uiyne 

An  hart  \\ 

With  homes  iwayne 

Of  glytteryng  gold  ;  1300 

And  the  appels  of  gold 
Of  Hesperides  withhold, 
And  with  a  dragon  kept 
That  neuer  more  slept,' 
By  marcyall  strength 
He  wan  at  length  ; 
And  slew  Gerion 
With  thre  bodyes  in  one ; 
With  myghty  corage 


106  PHYLLYP    SPAKOWE. 

Adauntid  the  rage 
Of  a  lyon  sauage  ; 
Of  Dyomedes  stable 
He  brought  out  a  rable 
Of  coursers  and  rounses 
With  leapes  and  bounses  ; 
And  with  mighty  luggyng, 
Wrestlyng  and  tuggyng, 
He  plucked  the  bull 
By  the  horned  skull, 
And  offred  to  Cornucopia  ; 
Aud  so  forth  per  cetera  : 

Also  by  Ecates  bower 
In  Plutos  gastly  to'ver  ; 

By  the  vgly  E.«  ^onides, 
That  neuer  huu^  *t  nor  ease  ; 

By  the  venemmW'  serpent, 
That  in  hell  is  neuo   orent, 
In  Lerna  the  Grekt*   ff>n. 
That  was  engendred  Urtfti ; 

By  Chemeras  flames, 
And  all  the  dedly  names 
Of  infernall  posty, 
Where  soules  frye  and  rosty  ; 

By  the  Stygyall  flood, 
And  the  streames  wood 
Of  Cocitus  botumles  well ; 

By  the  feryman  of  hell, 
Caron  with  his  beerd  hore, 
That  roweth  with  a  rude  ore 


PHYLLYP    SPAROWE.  107 

And  with  his  frownsid  fore  top  i«° 

Gydeth  his  bote  with  a  prop : 

I  coniure  Phylyp,  and  call 
In  the  name  of  kyng  Saul ; 
Primo  Regum  expresse, 
He  bad  the  Phitonesse 
To  wytchcraft  her  to  dresse, 
And  by  her  abusyons, 
And  dampnable  illusyons 
Of  marueylus  conclusyons, 
And  by  her  supersticyons,  i»» 

And  wonderfull  condityons, 
She  raysed  vp  in  that  stede  • 
Samuell  that  was  dede  ; 
But  whether  it  were  so, 
He  were  idem  in  numero, 
The  selfe  same  Samuell, 
How  be  it  to  Saull  dyd  he  tell 
The  Philistinis  shuld  hym  ascry, 
And  the  next  day  he  shuld  dye, 
I  wyll  my  selfe  dyscharge  >a» 

To  lettred  men  at  large : 

But,  Phylyp,  I  coniure  th'ee 
Now  by  these  names  thre, 
Diana  in  the  woodes  grene, 
Luna  that  so  bryght  doth  shene, 
Procerpina  in  hell, 
That  thou  shortly  tell, 
And  shew  now  vnto  me 
What  the  cause  may  be 
Of  this  perplexite  !  isro 


108  PHYLLTP    SPAROWE. 

Inferias,  Philippe,tuas  Scroupe  lpulchra  Joanna 
Instanter  petiit  :  cur  nostri  carminis  illam 
Nunc  pudet  ?  est  sero  ;  minor  est  infamia  vero. 

Than  suche  as  haue  disdayned 
And  of  this  worke  coraplayned, 
I  pray  God  they  be  payned 
No  worse  than  is  contayned 
In  verses  two  or  thre 
That  folowe  as  ye  2  may  se. 

Luride,  cur,  livor,  volucris  piafunera  damnas  ?  i38 
Talia  te  rapiant  rapiunt  quce  fata  volucrem  ! 
£st  tamen  invidia  mors  tibi  continucu 


1  Scroupe  is  to  be  considered  hero  as  a  monosyllable  ;  un- 
less we  read  "  Scrope"  as  two  short  syllables. 

2  ye]  So  other  eds.    Kele's  cd.  "  you."     C. 


ELYNOUR    KTJMMYNG.  109 


HERE    AFTER   FOLOWETH    THE    BOOKE     CALLED 

ELYNOUR   RUMMYNGE.* 

THE  TUNNYNG  OF  ELYNOUR  RUMMYNG  PER  SKELTON 
LAUKEAT. 

TELL  you  I  chyll, 
If  that  ye  wyll 
A  whyle  be  styll, 
Of  a  comely  gyll 
That  dwelt  on  a  hyll : 
But  she  is  not  gryll, 
For  she  is  somwhat  sage 
And  well  worne  in  age ; 
For  her  vysage 

It  would  as  wage  10 

A  mannes  courage. 
Her  lothely  lere 
Is  nothynge  clere, 
But  vgly  of  chere, 
Droupy  and  drowsy, 
Scuruy  and  lowsy ; 
Her  face  all  bowsy, 

*  From  the  ed.  by  Kynge  and  Marche  of  Certaine  bokes 
compyled  by  mayster  Sketion,  n.  d.,  collated  with  the  same  work, 
ed.  Day,  n.  d.,  and  ed.  Lant,  n.  d.,  with  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skel- 
ton's  Workes,  1568,  and  occasionally  with  the  comparatively 
modern  ed.  of  Elinavr  Rummin  by  Rand,  1624. 


110  ELYNOUR   RUMMTNG. 

Comely  crynklyd, 
Woundersly  wrynkled, 
Lyke  a  rost  pygges  eare, 
Brystled  wyth  here. 

Her  lewde  lyppes  twayne, 
They  slauer,  men  sayne, 
Lyke  a  ropy  rayne, 
A  gummy  glayre : 
She  is  vgly  fayre  ; 
Her  nose  somdele  hoked, 
And  camously  croked, 
Neuer  stoppynge, 
But  euer  droppynge ; 
Her  skynne  lose  and  slacke, 
Grained  lyke  a  sacke  ; 
With  a  croked  backe. 

Her  eyen  gowndy 
Are  full  vnsowndy, 
For  they  are  blered  ; 
And  she  gray  hered ; 
Jawed  lyke  a  jetty  ; 
A  man  would  haue  pytty 
To  se  how  she  is  gumbed, 
Fyngered  and  thumbed, 
Gently  ioynted, 
Gresed  and  annoynted 
Vp  to  the  knockels  ; 
The  bones  [of]  her  huckels 
Lyke  as  they  were  with  buckles 
Togyther  made  fast : 
Her  youth  is  farre  past : 


ELYNOUR  RUMMYNG.  Ill 

Foted  lyke  a  plane, 

Legged  lyke  a  crane  ;  so 

And  yet  she  wyll  iet, 

Lyke  a  iolly  fet, 

In  her  furred  flocket, 

And  gray  russet  rocket, 

With  syraper  the  cocket. 

Her  huke  of  Lyncole  grene, 

It  had  ben  hers,  I  wene, 

More  then  fourty  yere ; 

And  so  doth  it  apere, 

For  the  grene  bare  thredes  w 

Loke  like  sere  wedes, 

Wyddered  lyke  hay, 

The  woll  worne  away  ; 

And  yet  I  dare  saye 

She  thynketh  herselfe  gaye 

Vpon  the  holy  daye, 

Whan  she  doth  her  aray, 

And  gyrdeth  in  her  gytes 

Stytched  and  pranked  with  pletes ; 

Her  kyrtel  Brystow  red,  TO 

With  clothes  vpon  her  hed 

That  wey  a  sowe  of  led, 

Wrythen  in  wonder  wyse, 

After  the  Sarasyns  gyse, 

With  a  whym  wham, 

Knyt  -with  a  trym  tram, 

Vpon  her  brayne  pan, 

Like  an  Egyptian, 


112  ELYNOUR    RUMMYNG. 

Capped1  about: 

Whan  she  goeth  out 

Herselfe  for  to  shewe, 

She  dryueth  downe  the  dewe 

Wyth  a  payre  of  heles 

As  brode  as  two  wheles ; 

She  hobles  as  a  gose 

"With  her  blanket  hose 

Ouer  the  fulowe ; 

Her  shone  smered  wyth  talowe, 

Gresed  vpon  dyrt 

That  baudeth  her  skyrt. 

Primus  passus. 

And  this  comely  dame, 
I  vnderstande,  her  name 
Is  Elynour  Rummynge, 
At  home  in  her  wonnynge ; 
And  as  men  say 
She  dwelt 2  in  Sothray, 
In  a  certayne  stede 
Bysyde  Lederhede. 
She  is  a  tonnysh  gyb  ; 
The  deuyll  and  she  be  syb. 
But  to  make  vp  my  tale, 
She  breweth  noppy  ale, 


1  Capped]  Lant's  ed.  "  Lapped  " — Brightly,  perhaps. 

2  dwelt]  Qy.  "dwels?" 


ELYNOUR   RUMMYNG.  113 

And  maketh  therof  port  sale 1 

To  trauellars,  to  tynkers, 

To  sweters,  to  swynkers, 

And  all  good  ale  drynkers, 

That  wyll  nothynge  spare, 

But  drynke  till  they  stare 

And  brynge  themselfe  bare, 

With,  Now  away  the  mare,  uo 

And  let  vs  sley  care, 

As  wyse  as  an  hare  ! 

Come  who  so  wyll  svv 
To  Elynour  on  the  hyll, 
Wyth,  Fyll  the  cup,  fyll, 
And  syt  there  by  styll, 
Erly  and  late : 
Thyther  cometh  Kate, 
Cysly,  and  Sare, 

"With  theyr  legges  bare,  iao 

And  also  theyr  fete 
Hardely  full  vnswete ; 
Wyth  theyr  heles  dagged, 
Theyr  kyrtelles  all  to-iagged, 
Theyr  smockes  all  to-ragged, 
Wyth  tytters  and  tatters, 
Brynge  dysshes  and  platters, 
Wyth  all  theyr  myght  runnynge 


i port  sale]  So  Lant's  ed.     Ed.  of  Kynge  and  Marche,  "  pore  < 
sale."    Day's  ed.  "  poore  sale."    Marshe's  ed.  "  poorte  sale." 
(Rand's  ed.  "  pot-safe.")    See  notes. 
VOL.   I.  8 


114  F.LYNOCR    RUMMYNG. 

To  Elynour  Rummynge, 
To  haue  of  her  tunnynge : 
She  leneth  them  on  the  same, 
And  thus  begynneth  the  game.  ^X 

Some  wenches  come  vnlased, 
Some  huswyues  come  vnbrased, 
Wyth  theyr  naked  pappes, 
That  flyppes  and  flappes ; 
It  wygges  and  it *  wagges, 
Lyke  tawny  saffron  bagges ; 
A  sorte  of  foule  drabbes 
All  scuruy  with  scabbes : 
Some  be  .flybytten, 
Some  skewed  as  a  kytten  ; 
Some  wyth  a  sho  clout 
Bynde  theyr  heddes  about ; 
Some  haue  no  herelace, 
Theyr  lockes  about  theyr  face, 
Theyr  tresses  vntrust, 
All  full  of  vnlast ; 
Some  loke  strawry, 
Some  cawry  mawry ; 
Full  vntydy  tegges, 
Lyke  rotten  egges. 
Suche  a  lewde  sorte 
To  Elynour  resorte 
From  tyde  to  tyde  : 
Abyde,  abyde, 

1  It  ....  it]  Qy.  "That  ....  that?" 


ELYNOUR    RUMMYNG.  116 

And  to  you  shall  be  tolde 
Howe  hyr  ale  is  solde 
To  Mawte  and  to  Molde. 

Secundus  passus. 

Some  haue  no  mony  i« 

That  thyder  commy, 
For  theyr  ale  to  pay, 
That  is  a  shreud  aray ; 
Elynour  swered,  Nay, 
Ye  shall  not  beare  away 
My  ale  for  nought, 
By  hym  that  me  bought ! 

With,  Hey,  dogge,  hay, 
Haue  these  hogges  away  ! 
With,  Get  me  a  staffe,  m 

The  swyne  eate  my  draffe  ! 
Stryke  the  hogges  with  a  clubbe, 
They  haue  dronke  vp  my  swyllynge  tubbe  ! 
For,  be  there  neuer  so  much  prese, 
These  swyne  go  to  the  hye  dese, 
The  sowe  with  her  pygges  ; 
The  bore  his  tayle  wrygges, 
His  rumpe  also  he  frygges 
Agaynst  the  hye  benche  ! 
With,  Fo,  ther  is  a  stenche  !  i«> 

Gather  vp,  thou  wenche  ; 
Seest  thou  not  what  is  fall  ? 
Take  vp  dyrt  and  all, 
And  bere  out  of  the  hall : 


116  ELYNOUR    RT7MMYNG. 

God  gyue  it  yll  preuynge 
Clenly  as  yuell  cheuynge ! 
But  let  vs  turne  playne, 
There  we  lefte  agayne. 
For,  as  yll  a  patch  as  that, 
The  hennes  ron  in  the  mashfat ; 
For  they  go  to  roust 
Streyght  ouer  the  ale  ioust, 
And  donge,  whan  it  commes, 
In  the  ale  tunnes. 
Than  Elynour  taketh 
The  mashe  bolle,  and  shaketh 
The  hennes  donge  away, 
And  skommeth  it  into  a  tray 
Whereas  the  yeest  is, 
With  her  maungy  fystis : 
And  somtyme  she  blennes 
The  donge  of  her  hennes 
And  the  ale  together  ; 
And  sayeth,  Gossyp,  come  hyther, 
This  ale  shal  be  thycker, 
And  flowre  the  more  quicker  ; 
For  I  may  tell  you, 
I  lerned  it  of  a  Jewe, 
Whan  I  began  to  brewe, 
And  I  haue  founde  it  trew ; 
Drinke  now  whyle  it  is  new ; 
And  ye  may  it  broke, 
It  shall  make  you  loke 
Yonger  than  ye  be 


ELTNOUK   RTJMMTNG.  117 

Yeres  two  or  thre, 

For  ye  may  proue  it  by  me ; 

Beholde,  she  sayde,  and  se 

How  bryght  I  am  of  ble ! 

Ich  am  not  cast  away, 

That  can  my  husband  say,  z» 

Whan  we  kys  and  play 

In  lust  and  in  lykyng  ; 

He  calleth  me  his  whytyng, 

His  mullyng  and  his  mytyng,1 

His  nobbes  and  his  conny, 

His  swetyng  and  his  honny, 

With,  Bas,  my  prety  bonny, 

Thou  art  worth  good  and  monny. 

This  make  I  my  falyre  fonny, 

Til  that  he  dreme  and  dronny ;  » 

For,  after  all  our  sport, 

Than  wyll  he  rout  and  snort i^ 

Than  swetely  together  we  ly, 

As  two  pygges  in  a  sty. 

To  cease  me  semeth  best, 
And  of  this  tale  to  rest, 
And  for  to  leue  this  letter, 
Because  it  is  no  better, 
And  because  it  is  no  swetter  ; 
We  wyll  no  farther  ryme  a« 

Of  it  at  this  tyme  ; 

1  mytyng]  Eds.  of  Kynge  and  Marche,  and  of  Lant,  "  nyt- 
yng."  Day's  ed.  "  nittinge."  Marshe's  ed. "  nittine."  (Rand's 
ed.  "  mittine.")  See  notes. 


118  ELYNOTJR    RTJMMYNG. 

But  we  wyll  turne  playne 
"Where  we  left  agayne. 

Tertius  passus. 

Instede  of  coyne  and  monny,1 
Some  brynge  her  a  conny, 
And  some  a  pot  with  honny, 
Some  a  salt,  and  some  a  spone, 
Some  theyr  hose,  some  theyr  shone : 
Some  ran  a  good  trot 
With  a  skellet  or  a  pot ; 
Some  fyll  theyr  pot  full 
Of  good  Lemster  woll : 
An  huswyfe  of  trust, 
Whan  she  is  athrust, 
Suche  a  webbe  can  spyn, 
Her  thryft  is  full  thyn. 

Some  go  streyght  thyder, 
Be  it  slaty  or  slyder ; 
They  holde  the  hye  waye, 
They  care  not  what  men  say, 
Be  that  as  be  maye ; 


i  Instede  of  coyne,  &c.]    In  Skelton's   Workes,   1736,  the 
.passage  is  thus  exhibited: 

"  Some  instede  ofceine  and  monny 
Will  come  and  brynge  her  a  conny 
Or  else  a  pot  with  honni 
Some  a  knife  and  some  a  spone 
Some  brynge  their  hose,  some  ther  shone." 


ELYNOUR    RUMMYNG.  119 

Some,  lothe  to  be  espyde, 
Start  in  at  the  backe  syde, 
Ouer  the  hedge  and  pale, 
And  all  for  the  good  ale. 

Some  renne  tyll  they  swete, 
Brynge  wyth  them  malte  or  whete, 
And  dame  Elynour  entrete 
To  byrle  them  of  the  best. 

Than  cometh  an  other  gest ;  wo 

She  swered  by  the  rode  of  rest, 
Her  lyppes  are  so  drye, 
Without  drynke  she  must  dye  ; 
Therefore  fyll  it  by  and  by, 
And  haue  here  a  pecke  of  ry. 

Anone  cometh  another, 
As  drye  as  the  other, 
And  wyth  her  doth  brynge 
Mele,  salte,  or  other  thynge, 
Her  haruest  gyrdle,  her  weddynge  rynge,    ««> 
To  pay  for  her  scot 
As  cometh  to  her  lot. 
Som  bryngeth  her  husbandes  hood, 
Because  the  ale  is  good  ; 
Another  brought  her  his  cap 
To  offer  to  the  ale  tap, 
Wyth  flaxe  and  wyth  towe ; 
And  some  brought  sowre  dowe  ; 
Wyth,  Hey,  and  wyth,  howe, 
Syt  we  downe  a  rowe,  **> 

And  drynke  tyll  we  blowe, 
And  pype  tyrly  tyrlowe  ! 


120  ELYNOUR    RUMMYNG. 

Some  layde  to  pledge 
Theyr  hatchet  and  theyr  wedge, 
Theyr  hekell  and  theyr  rele, 
Theyr  rocke,  theyr  spynnyng  whele ; 
And  some  went  so  narrowe, 
They  layde  to  pledge  theyr  wharrowe, 
Theyr  rybskyn  and  theyr  spyndell, 
Theyr  nedell  and  theyr  thymbell : 
Here  was  scant  thryft 
Whan  they  made  suche  shyft. 

Theyr  thrust  was  so  great, 
They  asked  neuer  for  mete, 
But  drynke,  styll  drynke, 
And  let  the  cat  wynke, 
Let  vs  washe  our  gomnies 
From  the  drye  crommes. 

Quartus  passus. 
Some  for  very  nede 
Layde  downe  a  skeyne  of  threde, 
And  some  a  skeyne  of  yarne ; 
Some  brought  from  the  barne 
Both  benes  and  pease ; 
Small  chaffer  doth  ease 
Sometyme,  now  and  than : 
Another  there  was  that  ran 
"With  a  good  brasse  pan ; 
Her  colour  was  full  wan ; 
She  ran  in  all  the  hast 
Vnbrased  and  vnlast ; 


ELTNOUR    RUMMYNG.  J  21 

Tawny,  swart,  and  sallowe, 
Lyke  a  cake  of  tallowe ; 
I  swere  by  all  hallow, 
It  was  a  stale  to  take 
The  deuyll  in  a  brake. 

And  than  came  haltyng  Jone, 
And  brought  a  gambone 
Of  bakon  that  was  resty  : 
But,  Lorde,  as  she  was  testy, 
Angry  as  a  waspy  !  $» 

She  began  to  yane  and  gaspy, 
And  bad  Elynour  go  bet, 
And  fyll  in  good  met ; 
It  was  dere  that  was  farre  fet. 

Another  brought  a  spycke 
Of  a  bacon  flycke  ; 
Her  tonge  was  verye  quycke, 
But  she  spake  somwhat  thycke  : 
Her  felow  did  stammer  and  stut, 
But  she  was  a  foule  slut,  340 

For  her  mouth  fomyd 
And  her  bely  groned : 
Jone  sayne  she  had  eaten  a  fyest ; 
By  Christ,  sayde  she,  thou  lyest, 
I  haue  as  swete  a  breth 
As  thou,  wyth  shamfull  deth  ! 

Than  Elynour  sayde,  Ye  callettes, 
I  shall  breake  your  palettes, 
Wythout  ye  now  cease  ! 
And  so  was  made  the  peace.  aso 


122  ELYNOUR    RUMMYXG. 

Than  thyder  came  dronken  Ales 
And  she  was  full  of  tales, 
Of  tydynges  in  Wales, 
And  of  sainct  James  in  Gales, 
And  of  the  Portyngales  ; 
Wyth,  Lo,  gossyp,  I  wys, 
Thus  and  thus  it  is, 
There  hath  ben  great  war 
Betwene  Temple  Bar 
And  the  Crosse  in  Chepe, 
And  there  came  an  hepe 
Of  mylstones  in  a  route  : 
She  speketh  thus  in  her  snout, 
Sneuelyng  in  her  nose, 
As  thoughe  she  had  the  pose ; 
Lo,  here  is  an  olde  typpet, 
And  ye  wyll  gyue  me  a  syppet 
Of  your  stale  ale, 
God  sende  you  good  sale ! 
And  as  she  was  drynkynge, 
She  fyll  in  a  wynkynge 
Wyth  a  barlyhood, 
She  pyst  where  she  stood ; 
Than  began  she  to  wepe, 
And  forthvvyth  fell  on  slepe. 
Elynour  toke  her  vp, 
And  blessed  her  wyth  a  cup 
Of  newe  ale  in  cornes ; 
Ales  founde  therin  no  thornes, 
But  supped  it  vp  at  ones, 
She  founde  therin  no  bones. 


ELTNOUR   BUMMYNG.  123 

Quintus  passus. 

Nowe  in  cometh  another  rabell ; 
Fyrst  one  wyth  a  ladell, 
Another  wyth  a  cradell, 
And  wyth  a  syde  sadell : 
And  there  began  a  fabell, 
A  clatterynge  and  a  babell 
Of  folys  fylly * 
That  had  a  fole  wyth  wylly, 
With,  last  you,  and,  gup,  gylly  !  39° 

She  coulde  not  lye  stylly. 

Then  came  in  a  genet, 
And  sware  by  saynct  Benet, 
I  dranke  not  this  sennet 
A  draught  to  my  pay ; 
Elynour,  I  the  pray, 
Of  thyne  ale  let  vs  assay, 
And  haue  here  a  pylche  of  gray ; 
I  were  skynnes  of  conny, 
That  causeth  I  loke  so  donny.  «o 

Another  than  dyd  hyche  her, 
And  brought  a  pottel  pycher, 
A  tonnel,  and  a  bottell, 
But  she  had  lost  the  stoppell ; 
She  cut  of  her  sho  sole, 
And  stopped  the  r wyth  the  hole. 

Amonge  all  the  blommer, 
Another  brought  a  skommer, 

i  fylly]  Marsha's  ed."  silly." 


124  ELYNOUR   RUMMYNG. 

A  f'ryinge  pan,  and  a  slyce ; 
Elynour  made  the  pryce 
For  good  ale  eche  whyt. 

Than  sterte  in  mad  Kyt, 
That  had  lyttle  wyt ; 
She  semed  somdele  seke, 
And  brought  a  peny  cheke 
To  dame  Elynour, 
For  a  draught  of  lycour. 

Than  Margery  Mylkeducke 
Her  kyrtell  she  did  vptueke 
An  ynche  aboue  her  kne, 
Her  legges  that  ye  myght  se ; 
But  they  were  sturdy  and  stubbed, 
Myghty  pestels  and  clubbed, 
As  fayre  and  as  whyte 
As  the  fote  of  a  kyte : 
She  was  somwhat  foule, 
Crokenecked  lyke  an  oule  ; 
And  yet  she  brought  her  fees, 
A  cantell  of  Essex  chese 
Was  well  a  fote  thycke, 
Full  of  maggottes  quycke ; 
It  was  huge  and  greate, 
And  myghty  stronge  rneate 
For  the  deuyll  to  eate  ; 
It  was  tart  and  punyete. 

Another  sorte  of  sluttes, 
Some  brought  walnuttes, 
Some  apples,  some  peres, 
Some  brought  theyr  clyppynge  sheres, 


ELYNODR    11UMMYNG.  125 

Some  brought  this  and  that,  <«° 

Some  brought  I  wote  nere  what, 
Some  brought  theyr  husbandes  hat, 
Some  podynges  and  lynkes, 
Some  trypes  that  stynkes. 

But  of  all  this  thronge 
One  came  them  amonge, 
She  semed  halfe  a  leche, 
And  began  to  precbe 
Of  the  tewsday  in  the  weke 
Whan  the  mare  doth  keke ;  «o 

Of  the  vertue  of  an  vnset  leke  ; 
Of  her  husbandes  breke ; 
Wyth  the  feders  of  a  quale 
She  could  to  Burdeou  sayle ; 
And  wyth  good  ale  barme 
She  could  make  a  charme 
To  helpe  wythall  a  stytch . 
She  semed  to  be  a  wytch. 

Another  brought  two  goslynges, 
That  were  noughty  froslynges ;  «• 

She  brought  them  in  a  wallet, 
She  was  a  cumly  callet : 
The  goslenges  were  untyde ; 
Elynour  began  to  chyde, 
They  be  wretchockes  thou  hast  brought, 
They  are  shyre  shakyng  nought ! 

Sextus  passus. 

Maude  Ruggy  thyther  skypped : 
She  was  vgly  hypped, 


126  ELYNOUR    RUMMYNG. 

And  vgly  thy  eke  lypped, 

Lyke  an  onyon  syded, 

Lyke  tan  ledder  hyded  : 

She  had  her  so  guyded 

Betwene  the  cup  and  the  wall, 

That  she  was  there  wythall 

Into  a  palsey  fall ; 

Wyth  that  her  hed  shaked, 

And  her  handes  quaked : 

Ones  hed  wold  haue  aked 

To  se  her  naked : 

She  dranke  so  of  the  dregges, 

The  dropsy  was  in  her  legges ; 

Her  face  glystryng  lyke  glas  ; 

All  foggy  fat  she  was  ;^, 

She  had  also  the  gout 

In  all  her  ioyntes  about ; 

Her  breth  was  soure  and  stale, 

And  smelled  all  of  ale : 

Suche  a  bedfellaw 

Wold  make  one  cast  his  craw ; 

But  yet  for  all  that 

She  dranke  on  the  mash  fat. 

There  came  an  old  rybybe  ; 
She  halted  of  a  kybe, 
And  had  broken  her  shyn 
At  the  threshold  comyng  in, 
And  fell  so  wyde  open 
That  one  myght  se  her  token, 
The  deuyll  thereon  be  wroken  ! 
"What  nede  all  this  be  spoken  ? 


ELYNOUR    BUMMYNG.  127 

She  yelled  lyke  a  calfe  :  sot 

Ryse  vp,  on  Gods  halfe, 

Said  Elynour  Rummy ng, 

I  beshrevv  the  for  thy  cummyng! 

And  as  she  at  her  did  pluck, 

Quake,  quake,  sayd  the  duck 

In  that  lampatrams  lap; 

Wyth,  Fy,  couer  thy  shap 

Wyth  sum  flyp  flap  ! 

God  gyue  it  yll  hap, 

Sayde  Elynour  for  shame,  sit 

Lyke  an  honest  dame. 

Vp  she  stert,  halfe  lame, 

And  skantly  could  go 

For  payne  and  for  wo. 

In  came  another  dant, 
Wyth  a  gose  and  a  gant : 
She  had  a  wide  wesant ; 
She  was  nothynge  plesant ; 
Necked  lyke  an  olyfant ; 
It  was  a  bullyfant,  520 

A  gredy  cormerant. 

Another  brought  her  garlyke  hedes  ; 
Another  brought  her  bedes 
Of  iet  or  of  cole, 
To  offer  to  the  ale  pole : 
Some  brought  a  wymble, 
Some  brought  a  thymble, 
Some  brought  a  sylke  lace, 
Some  brought  a  pyncase, 


128  ELYNOUB   RUMMTNG. 

Some  her  husbandes  gowne,  wo 

Some  a  pyllow  of  downe, 

Some  of1  the  napery  ; 

And  all  this  shyfte  they  make 

For  the  good  ale  sake. 

A  stravve,  sayde  Bele,  stande  vtter, 
For  we  haue  egges  and  butter, 
And  of2  pygeons  a  payre. 

Than  sterte  forth  a  fysgygge, 
And  she  brought  a  bore  pygge ; 
The  fleshe  therof  was  ranke,  wo 

And  her  brethe  strongly  stanke, 
Yet,  or  she  went,  she  dranke, 
And  gat  her  great  thanke 
Of  Elynour  for  her  ware, 
That  she  thyther  bare 
To  pay  for  her  share. 
Now  truly,  to  my  thynkynge, 
This  is  a  solempne  drinkynge. 

Septimus  passus. 
Soft,  quod  one,  hyght  Sybbyll, 
And  let  me  wyth  you  bybyll.  &> 

She  sat  downe  in  the  place, 
With  a  sory  face 
Whey  wormed  about; 

1  Some  of,  &c.]  The  line  which  rhymed  with  this  has  dropt 
out 

2  And  of,  Sac,.]  The  line  which  rhymed  with  this  has  dropt 
out 


ELYNOUR   RUMMYNG.  129 

Garnyshed  was  her  snout 

Wyth  here  and  there  a  puscull, 

Lyke  a  scabbyd  muscull. 

This  ale,  sayde  she,  is  noppy  ; 

Let  vs  syppe  and  soppy, 

And  not  spyll  a  droppy, 

For  so  mote  I  hoppy,  sec 

It  coleth  well  my  croppy. 

Dame  Elynoure,  sayde  she, 
Haue  here  is  for  me, 
A  cloute  of  London  pynnes  ; 
And  wyth  that  she  begynnes 
The  pot  to  her  plucke, 
And  dranke  a  good  lucke  ; 
She  swynged  vp  a  quarte 
At  ones  for  her  parte  ; 
Her  paunche  was  so  puffed,  570 

Ana  so  wyth  ale  stuffed, 
Had  she  not  hyed  apace, 
She  had  defoyled  the  place. 

Than  began  the  sporte 
Amonge  that  dronken  sorte  : 
Dame  Eleynour,  sayde  they, 
Lende  here  a  cocke  of  hey, 
To  make  all  thynge  cleane  ; 
Ye  wote  well  what  we  meane. 

But,  syr,  among  all  sao 

That  sat  in  that  hall, 
There  was  a  pryckemedenty, 
Sat  lyke  a  seynty, 


130  ELTNOUR    RU3IMYNG. 


And  began  to  paynty, 
As  thoughe  she  would  faynty  ; 
She  made  it  as  koy 
As  a  lege  de  moy  ; 
She  was  not  halfe  so  wyse 
As  she  was  peuysshe  nyse. 
She  sayde  neuer  a  worde, 
But  rose  from  the  borde, 
And  called  for  our  dame, 
Elynour  by  name. 
We  supposed,  I  wys, 
That  she  rose  to  pys  ; 
But  the  very  grounds 
Was  for  to  compounde 
Wyth  Elynour  in  the  spence, 
To  pay  for  her  expence : 
I  haue  no  penny  nor  grote 
To  pay.  sayde  she,  God  wote, 
For  washyng  of  my  throte ; 
But  my  bedes  of  amber 
Bere  them  to  your  chamber. 
Then  Elynour  dyd  them  hyde 
Wythin  her  beddes  syde. 

But  some  than  sat  ryght  sad 
That  nothynge  had 
There  of  theyr  awne, 
Neyther  gelt  nor  pavvne  ; 
Suche  were  there  menny 
That  had  not  a  penny, 
But,  whan  they  should  walke, 


\ 


ELYNOUR   RTJMMYNG.  131 

Were  fayne  wyth  a  cbalke 
To  score  on  the  balke, 

Or  score  on  the  tayle^ 

God  gyue  it  yll  hayle  ! 

For  my  fyngers  ytche  ; 

I  haue  wrytten  to  mytche 

Of  this  mad  mummynge  KM 

Of  Elynour  Rummynge. 

Thus  endeth  the  gest 

Of  this  worthy  fest. 

Quod  Skelton,  Laureat. 


LAUEEATI   SKELTONIDIS  IN    DESPECTU  MALIGNANTIUM 
DISTICHON. 

Quamvis  insanis,  quamvis  marcescis  inanis, 

Invide,  cantamus  ;  hcBC  loca  plena  jocis. 

Bien  men  souuient. 

Omnes  fceminas,  qua  velnimis  bibulce  sunt,  vel 
qua  sordida  labe  squaloris,  aut  qua  spurca  fcedi- 
tatis  macula,  aut  verbosa  loquacitate  notantur,poeta 
invitat  ad  audiendum  hunc  libellum,  fyc. 

Ebria,  squalida,  sordida  fcemina,  prodiga  verbis, 
Hue  currat,  properet,  veniat!     Sua  gesta  libellus 
Iste  volutabit :  Pcean  sua  plectra  sonando 
Materiam  risus  cantabit  carmine  rauco. 
Finis. 

Quod  Skelton,  Laureat. 


132  POEMS    AGAINST    GARNESCHE. 


POEMS  AGAINST   GARNESCHE.* 

SKJELTON  LAURIATE  DEFENDER]    AGENST   MfASTER] 
GAltXESCHE   CHALEXGEB,   ET   CETERA. 

SITHE  ye  haue  me  chalyngyd,  M[aster]  Garnesche, 

Ruduly  revilyng  me  in  the  kynges  noble  hall, 
Soche  an  odyr  chalyngyr  cowde  me  no  man  wysch,1 
But  yf  yt  war  Syr  Tyrmagant  that  tyrnyd  with 

out  nail ; 2 
For  Syr  Frollo  de  Franko  was  neuer  halfe  so 

talle. 
But  sey  me  now,  Syr  Satrapas,  what  autoryte  ye 

haue 
In  your  chalenge,  Syr  Chystyn,  to  cale  me  knaue  ? 

What,  haue  ye  kythyd  yow  a  knyght,  Syr  Dugles 

the  dowty, 
So  currysly  tobeknaue  me  in  the  kynges  place  ? 8 

*  These  Poems  against  Garnesche  (now  for  the  first  time 
printed)  are  from  a  MS.  in  the  Harleian  Collection,  367  (fol. 
101),  which  is  in  many  parts  scarcely  legible,  being  written 
in  a  hand  very  difficult  to  decipher,  as  well  as  being  much 
injured  by  damp. 

1  teysch]  So  MS.  seems  to  read. 

2  with  out  naQ\  Seems  to  be  the  reading  of  MS., — "  nail " 
having  been  added,  instead  of  "  alle,"  which  is  drawn  through 
with  the  pen. 

8j>foceJ  Might  be  read  perhaps  "  palace." 


POEMS    AGAINST    GAKNESCHE.  133 

Ye  stronge  sturdy  stalyon,  so  sterne  and  stowty,  10 
Ye  here  yow  bolde  as  Barabas,  or  Syr  Terry 

of  Trace ; 
Ye  gyrne  grymly  with  your  gomys  and  with 

your  grysly  face. 
But  sey  me  yet,  Syr  Satropas,  what  auctoryte  ye 

haue 

In  your  chalange,   Syr  Chesten,  to  calle  me  a 
knaue  ? 

Ye  fowle,  fers,  and  felle,  as  Syr  Ferumbras  the 

ffreke, 

Syr  capten  of  Caty wade,  catacumbas  of  Cayre, 
Thow   ye   be   lusty  as    Syr  Lybyus  launces  to 

breke, 
Yet  your  contenons  oncomly,  your  face  ys  nat 

fayer : 
For  alle  your  proude  prankyng,  your  pride  may 

apayere. 

But  sey  me  yet,  Syr  Satrapas,  wat  auctoryte  ye 

haue  20 

In  your  chalenge,  Syr  Chesten,  to  cal  me  a  knaue  ? 

Of  Mantryble  the  Bryge,  Malchus  the  murryou, 
Nor  blake  Baltazar  with  hys  basnet  routh  as  a 

bere, 

Nor  Lycon,  that  lothly  luske,  in  myn  opynyon, 
Nor  no  bore  so  brymly  brystlyd  ys  with  here, 
As  ye  ar  brystlyd  on  the  bake  for  alle  your 
gay  gere. 


134  POEMS    AGAINST    GARNESCHE. 

[But  sey  me  yet,  Syr  Satrapas,  what  auctoryte 

ye  haue 
In  your  chalenge,.  Syr  Chesten,  to  calle  me  a 

knaue  ?] 

Your  wynde  schakyn  shankkes,  your  longe  lothy 


Crokyd  as  a  camoke,  and  as  a  kowe  calfles,    so 

Bry ngges  yow  out  of  fauy r  with  alle  femall  teggys : 

That  mastres  Punt  put  yow  of,  yt  was  nat  alle 

causeles ; 

At  Orwelle  hyr  hauyn  your  anggre  was  laules. 
[But  sey  me  yet,  Syr  Satrapas,  what  auctoryte 

ye  haue 

In  your  chalenge,   Syr  Chesten,  to  calle  me  a 
knaue  ?] 

I  sey,  ye  solem  Sarson,  alle  blake  ys  your  ble  ; 

As  a  glede  glowynge,  your  ien  glyster  as  glasse, 

Rowlynge  in  yower  holow  hede,  vgly  to  see ;      =» 

Your  tethe  teintyd  with  tawny ;  your  seniely 

snowte  doth  passe, 

Howkyd  as  an  hawkys  beke,  lyke  Syr  Topyas. 
Boldly  bend  you  to  batell,  and  buske  your  selfe 

to  saue : 

Chalenge  your  selfe  for  a  fole,  call  me  no  more 
knaue. 

Be  the  kynges  most  noble  commanderaent. 


POEMS    AGAINST    GAENESCHE.  135 


SKELTON    LAURYATE    DEFENDER     AGENST    M[  ASTER]    GAR- 

NESCHE    CHALANGAR,    WITH   GRESY,    GORBELYD 

GODFREY    [ET]    CETERA. 

How  may  I  your  mokery  mekely  tollerate, 
[Your]1  gronynge,  jour  grontynge,  your  groin- 

ynge  lyke  a  swyne  ? 

[Your]  pride  ys  alle  to  peuiche,  your  porte  im- 
portunate ; 
[You]  mantycore,2  ye  maltaperte,  ye  can  bothe 

wins  and  whyne ; 
[Your]  lothesum  lere  to  loke  on,  lyke  a  gresyd 

bote  dothe  schyne. 
Ye  cappyd  Cayface  copious,  your  paltoke  on  your 

pate, 

Thow  ye  prate  lyke  prowde  Pylate,  be  ware  yet 
of  chek  mate. 

Hole  ys  your  brow  that  ye  brake  with  Deu[ra]n- 

dall  your  awne  sworde  ; 
Why  holde  ye  on  yer  cap,  syr,  then  ?   your 

pardone  ys  expyryd : 
Ye  hobble  very  homly  before  the  kynges  borde ;    10 

1  Your]  The  beginning  of  this  line,  and  of  the  next  three 
lines,  torn  off  in  MS. 

2  mantycore]  MS.  "mantyca." 


136  POEMS    AGAINST    GARNESCHE. 

Ye  countyr  vmwhyle  to  capcyously,  and  ar  ye 

be  dysiryd ; 
Your  moth  etyn  mokkysh  maneres,  they  be  all 

to  myryd. 
Ye  cappyd  Cayface  copyous,  your  paltoke  on  your 

pate, 

Thow  ye  prate  lyke  prowde  Pylate,  be  ware  of 
cheke  mate. 

O  Gabionyte  of  Gabyone,  why  do  ye  gane  and 

gaspe  ? 
Huf  a  galante  Garnesche,  loke  on  your  comly 

cors! 
Lusty  Garnysche,  lyke  a  lowse,  ye  jet  full  lyke  a 

jaspe ; 
As  wytles  as  a  wylde  goos,  ye  haue  but  small 

remorrs 
Me  for  to  chalenge  that  of  your  chalennge 

makyth  so  lytyll  fors. 

Ye  capyd  Cayfas  copyous,  your  paltoke  on  your 
pate,  .  ao 

Tho  ye  prate  lyke  prowde  Pylate,  be  ware  of 
cheke  mate. 

Syr  Gy,  Syr  Gawen,  Syr  Cayus,  for  and  Syr 

Olyuere, 
Pyramus,  nor  Priamus,  nor  Syr  Pyrrus  the 

prowde, 
In  Arturys  auncyent  actys  no  where  ys  prouyd 

your  pere ; 


POEMS   AGAINST    GARNESCHE.  137 

The  facyoun  of  your  fysnamy  the  devyl  in  a 

clowde ; 
Your  harte  ys  to  hawte,  I  wys,  yt  wyll  nat  be 

alowde. 
Ye  capyd  Cayfas  copyus,  your  paltoke  on  your 

pate, 

Thow  ye  prate  lyke  prowde  Pylate,  be  ware  of 
cheke  mate. 

Ye  grounde  yow  vpon  Godfrey,  that  grysly  gar- 

gons  face, 

Your  stondarde,  Syr  Olifranke,  agenst  me  for 

to  splay :  so 

Baile,  baile  at  yow  bothe,  frantyke  folys !  follow 

on  the  chase ! 
Cum  Garnyche,  cum  Godfrey,  with  as  many  as 

36  may ! 
I  advyse  yow  be  ware  of  thys  war,  rannge  yow 

in  aray. 
Ye   cappyd  Cayfas   copyous,  [your  paltoke  on 

your  pate, 

Thow  ye  prate  lyke  prowde  Pylate,  be  ware  of 
cheke  mate.]      . 

Gup,  gorbellyd  Godfrey,  gup,  Garnysche,  gaudy 

fole! 
To  turney  or  to  tante  with  me  ye  ar  to  fare  to 

seke: 
For  thes  twayne  whypslouens  calle  for  a  coke 

stole  : 


138  POEMS    AGAINST    GARNESCHE. 

Thow  mantycore,  ye  marmoset,  garnyshte  lyke 

a  GrekeT 

Wranglynge,   waywyrde,   wytles,   wraw,    and 

nothyng  meke.  « 

Ye  cappyd  [Cayfas  copyous,  your  paltoke  on  your 

pate, 

Thow  ye  prate  lyke  prowde  Pylate,  be  ware  of 
cheke  mate.] 

Mirres  vous  y, 
Loke  nat  to  by. 

By  the  kynges  most  noble  commaundment. 


POEMS    AGAINST    GARNESCHE.  139 


SKELTON  LAWRYATE  DEFENDER  AGENYST  LUSTY  GARNYCHB 

WELLE   BE   SEYN  CRYSTEOUYR  CHALANNGER,   ET 

CETERA. 

I  HAUE  your  lewde  letter  receyuyd, 

And  well  I  haue  yt  perseyuyd. 

And  your  skrybe  I  haue  aspyed, 

That  your  mad  mynde  contryuyd. 

Sauynge  your  vsscheres  rod, 

I  caste  me  nat  to  be  od 

With  neythyr  of  yow  tewyne  : 

Wherfore  I  wryght  ageyne ; 

How  the  fauyr  of  your  face 

Is  voyd  of  all  good  grace ;  10 

For  alle  your  carpet  cousshons, 

Ye  haue  knauyche  condycyonns. 

Gup,  marmeset,  jast  ye,  morelle  ! 

I  am  laureat,  I  am  no  lorelle. 

Lewdely  your  tyme  ye  spende, 

My  lyuyng  to  reprehende  ; l 

And  wyll  neuer  intende 

Your  awne  levvdnes  to  amende  : 

Your  Englyshe  lew[d]ly  ye  sorte, 

And  falsly  }e  me  reporte.  » 

Garnyche,  ye  gape  to  wyde : 

l  My  lyuyng  to  reprehende]  Added  to  MS.  in  a  different  hand. 


140  POEMS   AGAINST    GABXESCHE. 

Yower  knavery  I  wyll  nat  hyde, 

For  to  aswage  your  pride. 

•   Whan  ye  war  yonger  of  age, 

Ye  war  a  kechyn  page, 

A  dyshwasher,  a  dryvyll, 

In  the  pott  your  nose  dedde  sneuyll ; 

Ye  fryed  and  ye  broylyd, 

Ye  rostyd  and  ye  boylyd, 

Ye  rostyd,  lyke  a  fonne, 

A  gose  with  the  fete  vponne ; 

Ye  slvfferd l  vp  sowse 

In  my  lady  Brewsys  howse. 

"Wherto  xulde  I  wryght 

Of  soche  a  gresy  knyght  ? 

A  bawdy  dyscheclowte, 

That  bryngyth  the  worlde  abowte 

With  haftynge  and  with  polleynge, 

With  lyenge  and  controlleynge. 

At  Gynys  when  ye  ware 
But  a  slendyr  spere, 
Dekkyd  lewdly  in  your  gere  ; 
For  when  ye  dwelt  there, 
Ye  had  a  knauysche  cote 
Was  skantly  worthe  a  grote  ; 
In  dud  frese  ye  war  schrynyd, 
With  better  frese  lynyd  ; 
The  oute  syde  euery  day, 
Ye  myght  no  better  a  way  ; 

i  dvfferd}  Might  perhaps  be  read  "  slooferd.' 


POEMS    AGAINST    GARNESCHE.  141 

The  insyde  ye  ded  calle  » 

Your  best  gowne  festyvalle. 
Your  drapry  $e  ded  wante, 
The  warde  with  yow  was  skante. 
When  ye  kyst  a  shepys  ie, 
.    1mastres  Andelby, 

Gynys  vpon  a  gonge, 
.  .  .  sat  sumwhat  to  longe ; 
.  .  .  hyr  husbandes  hed, 

malle  of  lede, 

.     .     .     that  ye  ther  prechyd,  «> 

To  hyr  loue  ye  nowte  rechyd : 
Ye  wolde  haue  bassyd  hyr  bumme, 
So  that  sche  wolde  haue  kum 
On  to  your  lowsy  den  ; 
But  sche  of  all  men 
Had  yow  most  in  despyght, 
Ye  loste  hyr  fauyr  quyt ; 
Your  pyllyd  garleke  hed 
Cowde  hocupy  there  no  stede ; 
She  callyd  yow  Syr  Gy  of  Gaunt,  » 

Nosyd  lyke  an  olyfaunt, 
A  pykes  or  a  twybyll ; 
Sche  seyd  how  ye  ded  brydell, 
Moche  lyke  a  dromadary  ; 
Thus  with  yow  sche  ded  wary, 
With  moche  mater  more 
That  I  kepe  in  store. 

1  A  portion  of  MS.  torn  off  here. 


142  POEMS   AGAINST    GARNESCHE. 

Your  brethe  ys  stronge  and  quike ; 
Ye  ar  an  eldyr  steke ; 
Ye  wot  what  I  thynke  ; 
At  bothe  endes  ye  stynke  ; 
Gret  daunger  for  the  kynge, 
Whan  hys  grace  ys  fastynge, 
Hys  presens  to  aproche  : 
Yt  ys  to  your  reproche. 
Yt  fallyth  for  no  swyne 
Nor  sowtters  to  drynke  wyne,  , 

Nor  seche  a  nody  polle 
A  pryste  for  to  controlle. 

Lytyll  wyt  in  your  scrybys  nolle 
That  scrybblyd  your  fonde  scrolle, 
Vpon  hym  for  to  take 
Agennst  me  for  to  make, 
Lyke  a  doctor  dawpate, 
A  lauryate  poyete  for  to  rate. 
Yower  termys  ar  to  grose, 
To  far  from  the  porpose, 
To  contaminate 
And  to  violate 
The  dygnyte  lauryate. 

Bolde  bayarde,  ye  are  to  blynde, 
And  grow  all  oute  of  kynde, 
To  occupy  so  your  mynde  ; 
For  reson  can  I  non  fynde 
Nor  good  ryme  in  yower  mater ; 
I  wondyr  that  ye  smatyr, 
So  for  a  knaue  to  clatyr  ; 


POEMS    AGAINST    GARNESCHE.  143 

Ye  wolde  be  callyd  a  maker, 

And  make  moche  lyke  Jake  Rakar ; 

Ye  ar  a  comly  crakar,  no 

Ye  lernyd  of  sum  py  bakar. 

Caste  vp  your  curyows  wrytyng, 

And  your  dyrty  endytyng, 

And  your  spyghtfull  despyghtyng, 

For  alle  ys  nat  worthe  a  myteyng, 

A  makerell  nor  a  wyteyng : 

Had  ye  gonne  with  me  to  scole, 

And  occupyed  no  better  your  tole, 

Ye  xulde  haue  kowththyd  me  a  fole. 

But  now,  gawdy,  gresy  Garnesche,         ««> 
Your  face  I  wyse  to  varnyshe 
So  suerly  yt  xall  nat  tarnishe. 
Thow  a  Sarsens  bed  ye  bere, 
Row  and  full  of  lowsy  here, 
As  heuery  man  wele  seethe, 
Ful  of  grett  knauys  tethe, 
In  a  felde  of  grene  peson 
Ys  ryme  yet  owte  of  reson  ; 
Your  wyt  ys  so  geson, 
Ye  rayle  all  out  of  seson.  ta« 

Your  x  skyn  scabbyd  and  scuruy, 
Tawny,  tannyd,  and  shuruy, 
Now  vpon  thys  hete 
Rankely  whan  ye  swete, 
Men  sey  ye  wyll  wax  lowsy, 
Drunkyn,  drowpy,  drowsy. 

i  Tour]  Added  to  MS.  in  a  different  hand. 


144  POEMS    AGAIXST    GARXESCHE. 

Your  sworde  ye  swere,  I  wene, 

So  tranchaunt  and  so  kene, 

Xall  kyt  both  wyght  and  grene : 

Your  foly  ys  to  grett 

The  kynges  colours  to  threte. 

Your  brethe  yt  ys  so  felle 

And  so  puauntely  dothe  smelle, 

And  so  haynnously  doth  stynke, 

That  naythyr  pump  nor  synke 

Dothe  sauyr  halfe  so  souer 

Ageynst  a  stormy  shouer. 

O  ladis  of  bryght  colour, 

Of  bewte  that  beryth  the  flower, 

When  Garnyche  cummyth  yow  amonge 

With  hys  brethe  so  stronge, 

Withowte  ye  haue  a  confectioun 

Agenst  hys  poysond  infeccioun, 

Els  with  hys  stynkyng  jawys 

He  wyl  cause  yow  caste  your  crawes, 

And  make  youer  stomoke  seke 

Ovyr  the  perke  to  pryk. 

Now,  Garnyche,  garde  thy  gummys  ; 
My  serpentins  and  my  gunnys 
Agenst  ye  now  I  bynde  ; 
Thy  selfe  therfore  defende. 
Thou  tode,  thow  scorpyone, 
Thow  bawdy  babyone, 
Thow  bere,  thow  brystlyd  bore, 
Thou  Moryshe  mantycore, 
Thou  rammysche  stynkyng  gote, 


POEMS    AGAINST    GAKXE3CHE.  145 

Thou  fowle  chorlyshe  parote, 

Thou  gresly  gargone  glaymy, 

Thou  swety  slouen  seymy, 

Thou  murrionn,  thow  mawment,  iro 

Thou  fals  stynkyng  serpent, 

Thou  mokkyshe  marmoset, 

I  wyll  nat  dy  in  they  1  det. 

Tyburne  thou  me  assynyd, 

Where  thou  xulddst  haue  bene  shrynyd  ; 

The  nexte  halter  ther  xall  be 

I  bequeth  yt  hole  to  the : 

Soche  pelfry  thou  hast  pachchyd, 

And  so  thy  selfe  houyr  wachyd 

That  ther  thou  xuldyst  be  rachchyd,  iao 

If  thow  war  metely  machchyd. 

Ye  may  wele  be  bedawyd, 
Ye  ar  a  fole  owlelauyd  ; 
And  for  to  telle  the  gronde, 
Pay  Stokys  hys  fyue  pownd. 
I  say,  Syr  Dalyrag, 
Ye  bere  yow  bold  and  brag 
With  othyr  menys  charge  : 
Ye  kyt  your  clothe  to  large  : 
Soche  pollyng  paiaunttis  ye  pley,  iw 

To  poynt  yow  fresche  and  gay. 

And  he  that  scryblyd  your  scroller, 
I  rekyn  yow  in  ray  rowllys, 
For  ij  dronken  sowllys. 


l  they]  Compare  v.  18  of  the  next  poem. 
VOL.   I.  10 


146  POEMS    AGAINST    GAKNESCHE. 

Rede  and  lerne  ye  may, 
How  olde  proverbys  say, 
That  byrd  ys  nat  honest 
That  fylythe  hys  owne  nest. 
Yf  he  wyst  what  sum  wotte, 
The  flesche  bastyng  of  his  cote 
Was  sowyd  with  slendyr  threfde]  : 
God  sende  you  wele  good  spede, 
With  Dominus  vobiscum  ! 
Good  Latyn  for  Jake  a  thrum, 
Tyll  more  matyr  may  cum. 

By  the  kynges  most  noble  commaundment. 


DONUM   LAUREATI   DISTICHON   CONTRA  GOLIARDOM 
GARNISHE  ET   SCRIBAM  EJUS. 

Tu,  Garniske,  fatuus,fatuus  tuus  est  mage  scriba . 
Qui  sapuit  puer,  insanitvir,  versus  in  hydram. 


SKELTON   LAUREATE  DEFENDAR  AGEINST  LUSTY  GARNYSHE 
WELL  BE8EEN  CRYSTOFER   CHALANGAR,   ET   CETERA. 

GAKNYSHE,  gargone,  gastly,  gryme, 
I  haue  receyuyd  your  secunde  ryme. 
Thowthe  ye  kan  skylle  of  large  and  longe, 
Ye  syng  allway  the  kukkowe  songe  : 


POEMS    AGAINST    GARNESCHE.  147 

Ye  rayle,  ye  ryme,  with  Hay,  dog,  hay  ! 

Your  chorlyshe  chauntyng  ys  all  o  lay. 

Ye,  syr,  rayle  all  in  deformite  : 

Ye  haue  nat  red  the  properte 

Of  naturys  workys,  how  they  be 

Myxte  with  sum  incommodite, 

As  prouithe  well,  in  hys  Rethorikys  olde," 

Cicero  with  hys  tong  of  golde. 

That  nature  wrowght  in  yow  and  me, 

Irreuocable  ys  hyr  decre  ; 

Waywardly  wrowght  she  hath  in  the, 

Beholde  thi  selfe,  and  thou  mayst  se ; 

Thow  xalte  beholde  no  wher  a  warse, 

They  myrrour  may  be  the  deuyllys  ars. 

Wyth,  knaue,  syr  knaue,  and  knaue  ageine  ! 

To  cal  me  knaue  thou  takyst  gret  payne :  ao 

The  prowdyst  knaue  yet  of  vs  tewyne 

Within  thy  skyn  he  xall  remayne ; 

The  starkest  knaue,  and  lest  good  kan, 

Thou  art  callyd  of  euery  man  ; 

The  corte,  the  centre,  wylage,  and  towne, 

Sayth  from  thy  to  vnto  thi  croune, 

Of  all  prowde  knauys  thow  beryst  the  belle, 

Lothsum  as  Lucifer  lowest  in  helle. 

On  that  syde,  on  thys  syde  thou  dost  gasy, 

Thou  thynkyst  thy  selfe  Syr  Pers  de  Brasy,      so 


a  Observa  prologum  libri  2'  in  veteri  Rhetorica  Ciceronis. 
Incipit  autem  sc.  g.  Crotoniati  quondam  cum  florerent  omni- 
bus copiis,  et  cetera.  [Side  Note.] 


148  POEMS    AGAINST    GARNESCHE. 

Thy  caytyvys  carkes  cours  and  crasy ; 
Moche  of  thy  maneres  I  can  blasy. 

Of  Lumbardy  Gorge  Hardyson, 
Thow  wolde  haue  scoryd  hys  habarion  ; 
That  jentyll  Jorge  the  Januay, 
Ye  wolde  haue  trysyd  hys  trowle  away  : 
Soche  paiantes  with  your  fryndes  ye  play, 
With  trechery  ye  them    betray. 
Garnyshe,  ye  gate  of  Gorge  with  gaudry 
Crimsin  velvet  for  your  bawdry. 
Ye  haue  a  fantasy  to  Fanchyrche  strete, 
With  Lumbardes  lemmanns  for  to  mete, 
With,  Bas  me,  buttyng,  praty  Cys  ! 
Yower  lothesum  lypps  loue  well  to  kyse, 
Slaueryng  lyke  a  slymy  snayle  ; 
I  wolde  ye  had  kyst  hyr  on  the  tayle ! 

Also  nat  fare  from  Bowgy  row, 
Ye  pressyd  pertely  to  pluk  a  crow : 
Ye  lost  your  holde,  onbende  your  bow, 
Ye  wan  nothyng  there  but  a  mow ; 
Ye  wan  nothyng  there  but  a  skorne  ; 
Sche  wolde  nat  of  yt  thow  had  sworne 
Sche  seyd  ye  war  coluryd  with  cole  dust ; 
To  daly  with  yow  she  had  no  lust. 
Sche  seyd  your  brethe  stanke  lyke 'a  broke 
With,  Gup,  Syr  Gy,  ye  gate  a  moke. 
Sche  sware  with  hyr  ye  xulde  nat  dele, 
For  ye  war  smery,  lyke  a  sele, 
And  ye  war  herey,  lyke  a  calfe ; 
Sche  praiid  yow  walke,  on  Goddes  halfe  ! 


POEMS    AGAINST    GARNESCHE.  149 

And  thus  there  ye  lost  yower  pray ; 
Get  ye  anothyr  where  ye  may. 

Dysparage  ye  myn  auncetry  ? 
Ye  ar  dysposyd  for  to  ly  : 
I  sey,  thow  felle  and  fowle  flessh  fly, 
In  thys  debate  I  the  askry. 
Thow  claimist  the  jentyll,  thou  art  a  curre  ; 
Haroldis  they  know  thy  cote  arraur  : 
Thow  thou  be  a  jantyll  man  borne, 
Yet  jentylnes  in  the  ys  thred  bare  worne  ;  TO 

Haroldes  from  honor  may  the  devors, 
For  harlottes  hawnte  thyn  hatefull  cors  : 
Ye  here  out  brothells  lyke  a  bawde ; 
Ye  get  therby  a  slendyr  laude 
Betweyn  the  tappett  and  the  walle, — 
Fusty  bawdyas  !  I  sey  nat  alle. 
Of  harlottes  to  vse  soche  an  harres, 
Yt  bredth  mothys  in  clothe  of  Arres. 

What  eylythe  the",  rebawde,  on  me  to  raue  ? 
A  kyng  to  me  myn  habyte  gaue  :  « 

At  Oxforth,  the  vniversyte, 
Auaunsid  I  was  to  that  degre ; 
By  hole  consent  of  theyr  senate, 
I  was  made  poete  lawreate. 
To  cal  me  lorell  ye  ar  to  lewde : 
Lythe  and  lystyn,  all  bechrewde  ! 
Of  the  Musys  nyne,  Calliope 
Hath  pointyd  me  to  rayle  on  the. 
It  semyth  nat  thy  pyllyd  pate 
Agenst  a  poyet  lawreat  •• 


150  POEMS   AGAINST    GARNESCHE. 

To  take  vpon  the  for  to  scryue : 
It  cumys  the  better  for  to  dryue 
A  dong  cart  or  a  tumrelle 
Than  with  my  poems  for  to  melle. 

The  honor  of  Englond  I  lernyd  to  spelle, 
In  dygnyte  roialle  that  doth  excelle : 
Note  and  marke  wyl *  thys  parcele ; 
I  yaue  hym  drynke  of  the  sugryd  welle 
Of  Eliconys  waters  crystallyne, 
Aqueintyng  hym  with  the  Musys  nyne.  «» 

Yt  commyth  the  wele  me  to  remorde, 
That  creaunser  was  to  thy  sofre[yne]  lorde :  ' 
It  plesyth  that  noble  prince  roialle 
Me  as  hys  master  for  to  calle 
In  hys  lernyng  primordialle. 
Auaunt,  rybawde,2  thi  tung  reclame  ! 
Me  to  beknaue  thow  art  to  blame ; 
Thy  tong  vntawte,  with  poyson  infecte, 
Withowte  thou  leue  thou  shalt  be  chekt,8 
And  takyn  vp  in  such  a  frame,  no 

That  all  the  warlde  vvyll  spye  your  shame. 
Auaunt,  auaunt,  thow  slogysh     .     .     . 

And  sey  poetis  no  dys 

It  ys  for  no  bawdy  knaue 

The  dignite  lawreat  for  to  haue. 

1  wyl]  Compare  v.  135. 

2  rybawde}  MS.  seems  to  have  "  rylowde." 

8  Withowte  thou  leue,  $c.}  In  MS.  the  latter  part  of  this  liue, 
and  the  concluding  portions  of  the  next  two  lines,  are  so  in- 
jured by  stains  that  I  can  only  guess  at  the  words.  The  end- 
ings of  the  third  and  fourth  lines  after  this  are  illegible. 


POEMS    AGAINST    GARNESCHE.  151 

Thow  callyst  me  scallyd,  thou  callyst  me  mad: 
Thow  thou  be  pyllyd,  tbow  ar  nat  sade. 
Thow  ar  frantyke  and  lakkyst  wyt, 
To  rayle  with  me  that  the  can  hyt. 
Thowth  it  be  now  ful  tyde  with  the",  120 

Yet  ther  may  falle  soche  caswelte, 
Er  thow  be  ware,  that  in  a  throw 
Thow  mayst  fale  downe  and  ebbe  full  lowe : 
Wherfore  in  welthe  beware  of  woo, 
For  welthe  wyll  sone  departe  the"  froo. 
To  know  thy  selfe  yf  thow  lake  grace, 
Lerne  or  be  lewde,  I  shrew  thy  face. 

Thow  seyst  I  callyd  the  a  pecok  : 
Thow  liist,  I  callyd  the  a  wodcoke  ; 
For  thow  hast  a  long  snowte,  iao 

A  semly  nose  and  a  stowte, 
Prickyd  lyke  an  vnicorne  : 
I  wold  sum  manys  bake  ink  home 
Wher  thi  nose  spectacle  case ; 
Yt  wold  garnyche  wyll  thy  face. 

Thow  demyst  my  raylyng  ouyrthwarthe  ; 
I  rayle  to  the  soche  as  thow  art. 
If  thow  war  aquentyd  with  alle 
The  famous  poettes  saturicall, 
As  Perftius  and  luuynall,  i« 

Horace  and  noble  Marciall, 
If  they  wer  lyueyng  thys  day, 
Of  the  wote  I  what  they  wolde  say ; 
They  wolde  the  wryght,  all  with  one  steuyn, 
The  follest  slouen  ondyr  heuen, 


152      POEMS  AGAINST  GARNESCHE. 

Prowde,  peuiche,  lyddyr,  and  lewde, 
Malapert,  medyllar,  nothyng  well  thewde, 
Besy,  braynles,  to  bralle  and  brage,  • 
Wytles,  wayward,  Syr  Wryg  wrag, 
Dysdaynous,  dowble,  ful  of  dyseyte,  i 

Liing,  spying  by  suttelte  and  slyght, 
Fleriing,  flatyryng,  fals,  and  fykkelle, 
S'cornefull  and  mokkyng  ouer  to  mykkylle. 

My  tyme,  I  trow,  I  xulde  but  lese 
To  wrygbt  to  the  of  tragydese, 
It  ys  nat  mete  for  soche  a  knaue  ; 
But  now  my  proces  for  to  saue, 
I  have  red,  and  rede  I  xall, 
Inordynate  pride  wyll  haue  a  falle. 
Presumptuous  pride  ys  all  thyn  hope : 
God  garde  the,  Garnyche,  from  the  rope ! 
Stop  a  tyd,  and  be  welle  ware 
Ye  be  nat  cawte  in  an  hempen  snare. 
Harkyn  herto,  ye  Haruy  Haftar, 
Pride  gothe  before  and  schame  commyth  after. 

Thow  wrythtyst  I  xulde  let  the  go  pley : 
Go  pley  the,  Garnyshe,  garnysshyd  gay  ; 
I  care  nat  what  thow  wryght  or  sey  ; 
I  cannat  let  the  the  knaue  to  play, 
To  dauns  the  hay  or  rune  the  ray : 
Thy  fonde  face  can  me  nat  fray. 
Take  thys  for  that,  bere  thys  in  mynde, 
Of  thy  lewdenes  more  ys  behynde  ; 
A  reme  of  papyr  wyll  nat  holde 
Of  thi  lewdenes  that  may  be  tolde. 


POEMS    AGAINST    GARNESCHE.  153 

My  study  myght  be  better  spynt ; 

But  for  'to  serue  the  kynges  entent, 

Hys  noble  pleasure  and  commandemennt, 

Scrybbyl  thow,  scrybyll  thow,  rayle  or  wryght, 

Wryght  what  thow  wylte,  I  xall  the*  aquyte.      iso 

By  the  kyngys  most  noble  commandemennt. 


154  AGAINST    VENEMOUS    TONGUES. 


SKELTON  LAVREATE, 

ORATOKIS    EEGIS   TERTIUS,1 

AGAINST  VENEMOUS  TONGUES  ENPOYSONED    WITH    SCi^AUN- 
DEE  AND   FALSE  DETRACTIONS,   &C.# 

Quid  detur  tibi,  aut  quid  apponatur  tibi  ad  lin- 
guam  dolosam  1     Psalm,  c.  xlij. 

Deus  destruet  te  injinem;  evettet  te,  et  emigrabit 
te  de  tabernaculo  tuo,  et  radicem  luam  de 
terra  viventium.  Psal.  Ixvii. 

Al  maters  wel  pondred  and  wel  to  be  regarded, 
How  shuld  a  fals  lying  tung  then  be  rewarded  ? 
Such  tunges  shuld  be  torne  out  by  the  harde 

rootes, 
Hoyning  like  hogges  that  groynis  and  wrotes. 

Dilexisti  omnia  verba  prcecipitationis,  lingua  do- 
losa.     Ubi  s.  fyc. 

For,  as  I  haue  rede  in  volumes  olde, 
A  fals  lying  tunge  is  harde  to  withholde ; 
A  sclaunderous  tunge,  a  tunge  of  a  skolde, 
Worketh  more  misehiefe  than  can  be  tolde  ; 


i  Tertius]  A  misprint:  qy.  "Versus?" 

*  From  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Workes,  1568. 


AGAINST    VENEMOTJS    TONGUES.  155 

That,  it'  I  wist  not  to  be  controlde, 

Yet  soimvhat  to  say  I  dare  well  be  bolde, 

How  some  delite  for  to  lye  thycke  and  threfolde. 

Ad  sannam  hominem  redigit  cornice  et  graphice. 

For  ye  said,  that  he  said,  that  I  said,  wote  ye 

what? 

I  made,  he  said,  a  windmil  of  an  olde  mat : 
If  there  be  none  other  mater  but  that, 
Than  ye  may  commaunde  me  to  gentil  Cok  wat. 

Hie  notat  purpuraria  arte  intextas  literas  Romanas 
in  amictibus  post  ambulonum l  ante  et  retro. 

For  before  on  your  brest,  and  behind  on  your 

back, 

In  Romaine  letters  I  neuer  founde  lack  ; 
In  your  crosse  rowe  nor  Christ  crosse  you  spede, 
Your  Pater  noster,  your  Aue,  nor  your  Crede. 
Who  soeuer  that  tale  vnto  you  tolde, 
He  saith  vntruly,  to  say  that  I  would 
Controlle  the  cognisaunce  of  noble  men 
Either  by  language  or  with  my  pen. 

Paedagogium  meum  de  suUimiori  Minerva  con- 
stat  esse  :  ergo,  fyc. 

My  scoler  is  more  solem  and  somwhat  more  haute 
Than  to  be  founde  in  any  such  faute. 

1  post  ambulonum}  The  Rev.  J.  Mi t ford  would  read  "  ambu- 
lonum post:"  post  is  probably  an  abridgment  of  positas. 
Gent.  Mag.  Sept,  1844,  p.  244. 


156  AGAINST   VEKEMOUS    TONGUES. 

Ptedagogium  meum  male  sanos  maledicos  sibilis 
complosisque  manibus  explodit,  fyc. 

My  scoles  are  not  for  vnthriftes  vntaught, 

For  frantick  faitours  half  mad  and  half  straught ; 

But  my  learning  is  of  an  other  degree 

To  taunt  theim  like  liddrous,  lewde  as  thei  bee. 

Laxent   ergo   antennam   elationis   SUCK   inflatam 
vento  vanitatis.     li.  ille,  fyc. 

For  though  some  be  lidder,  and  list  for  to  rayle, 
Yet  to  lie  vpon  me  they  can  not  preuayle : 
Then  leyt  them  vale  a  bonet  of  their  proud  sayle, 
And  of  their  taunting  toies  rest  with  il  hayle. 

Nobilitati  ignoUlis  cedat  vilitas,  $c. 

There  is  no  noble  man  wil  iudge  in  me 

Any  such  foly  to  rest  or  to  be : 

I  care  muche  the  lesse  what  euer  they  say, 

For  tunges  vntayde  be  renning  astray ; 

But  yet  I  may  say  safely,  so  many  \vel  lettred 

Embraudred,  enlasid  together,  and  fettred, 

And  so  little  learning,  so  lewdly  alowed, 

What  fault  find  ye  herein  but  may  be  auowed? 

But  ye  are  so  full  of  vertibilite, 

And  of  frenetyke  folabilite,  u 

And  of  melancoly  mutabilite,  • 

That  ye  would  coarte  and  enforce  me 

Nothing  to  write,  but  hay  the  gy  of  thre, 

And  I  to  suffre  you  lewdly  to  ly 

Of  me  with  your  language  full  of  vilany ! 


AGAINST    VENEMOUS    TOXGUES.  157 

Sicut  novacula  acuta  fecisti  dolum*     Ubi  s. 

Malicious  tunges,  though  they  haue  no  bones, 
Are  sharper  then  swordes,  sturdier  then  stones. 

Lege  Philostratum  de  vita  Tyancei  Apollonii. 

Sharper  then  raysors  that  shaue  and  cut  throtes, 
More  stinging  then  scorpions  that  stang  Phara- 
otis. 

Venenum  aspidum  sub  labiis  eorum.     Ps. 

More  venemous  and  much  more  virulent 
Then  any  poysoned  tode  or  any  serpent. 

Quid  peregrinis  egemtis  exemplis  ?  ad  domestica 
recurramus,  fyc.  li.  ille. 

Such  tunges  vnhappy  hath  made  great  diuision 
In  realmes,  in  cities,  by  suche  fals  abusion  ; 
Of  fals  fickil  tunges  suche  cloked  collusion 
Hath   brought  nobil  princes  to  extreme  confu- 
sion. 

Quicquid  loquantur,  ut  effbeminantur,  ita  effan- 
tur  §c. 

Somtime  women  were  put  in  great  blame, 
Men  said  they  could  not  their  tunges  atame  ; 
But  men  take  vpon  theim  nowe  all  the  shame, 
With  skolding  and  sklaundering  make  their  tungs 
lame. 


15&  AGAINST    VENEMODS    TONGUES. 

Novarum  rerum  cupidissimi,  captatores,  delatores, 
adulatores,  invigilator  es,  deliratores,  §c.  id 
genus,  li.  ille. 

For  men  be  now  trailers  and  tellers  of  tales ; 
What  tidings  at  Totnam,  what  nevvis  in  Wales, 
What  shippis  are  sailing  to  Scalis  Malis  ? 
And  all  is  not  worth  a*  couple  of  nut  shalis : 
But    lering   and   lurking   here   and   there    like 

spies ; 
The  deuil  tere  their  tunges  and  pike  out  their 

ies ! 
Then   ren    they  with   lesinges   and    blow  them 

about, 

With,  He  wrate  suche  a  bil  withouten  dout ; 
With,  I  can  tel  you  what  such  a  man  said  ; 
And  you  knew  all,  ye  would  be  ill  apayd.  10 

De  more  vulpino,  gannientes  ad  aurem,  jictas  fa- 
bellas  fabricant.  il.  ille. 

fnauspicatum,  male  ominatum,  infortunatum  se 
fateatur  habuisse  horoscopum,  quicunque  male- 
dixerit  vati  Pierio,  S[keltonidi~\  L[aureato], 

Src. 

But  if  that  I  knewe  what  his  name  hight, 
For  clatering  of  me  I  would  him  sone  quight ; 
For  his  false  lying,  of  that  I  spake  neuer, 
I  could  make  him  shortly  repent  him  for  euer : 
Although  he  made  it  neuer  so  tough, 
He  might  be  sure  to  haue  shame  ynough. 


AGAINST    VENEMOUS    TONGUES.  159 

Cerberus  horrendo  barathri  latrando  sub  antro 
Te  rodatque  voret,  lingua  dolosa,  precor. 

A  fals  double  tunge  is  more  fiers  and  fell 

Then  Cerberus  the  cur  couching  in  the  kenel  of 

hel;     . 

Wherof  hereafter  I  thinke  for  to  write, 
Of  fals  double  tunges  in  the  dispite. 

Recipit  se  scripturum  opus  sanctum,  laudabile, 
acceptable,  memorabileque,  et  nimis  honorifi- 
candum. 

Disperdat  Dominus  universa  labia  dolosa  et  lin- 
guam  magniloquam  ! 


160  ON   TYME. 


YE  may  here  now,  in  this  ryme, 
How.  euery  thing  must  haue  a  tyme.* 

Tyme  is  a  thing  that  no  man  may  resyst ; 

Tyme  is  trancytory  and  irreuocable  ; 
Who  sayeth  the  contrary,  tyme  passeth  as  hym 

lyst; 

Tyme  must  be  taken  in  season  couenable  ; 
Take   tyme   when    tyme  is,  for   tyme   is   ay 

mutable ; 

All  thynge  hath  tyme,  who  can  for  it  prouyde  ; 
Byde  for  tyme  who  wyll,  for  tyme  wyll  no  man 
byde. 

Tyme  to  be  sad,  and  tyme  to  play  and  sporte ;    10 
Tyme  to  take  rest  by  way  of  recreacion  ; 

Tyme  to  study,  and  tyme  to  use  comfort ; 
Tyme  of  pleasure,  and  tyme  of  consolation  : 
Thus  tyme  hath  his  tyme  of  diuers  maner 
facion : 

#  This  and  the  next  three  poems  are  from  the  ed.  by  Kynge 
and  Marche  of  Cerlaine  bakes  compyled  by  mayster  Skelton,  n.  d., 
collated  with  the  same  work,  ed.  Day,  n.  d.,  and  ed.  Lant, 
and  with  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Workes,  1568.  I  may  here 
notice  that  in  those  eds.  the  present  piece  is  preceded  by  a 
copy  of  verses,  "  All  nobyll  men  of  this  take  hede,"  &c., 
which  will  be  given  afterwards,  before  Why  come  ye  not  to 
Ontrte  i  where  it  is  repeated  in  al!  the  eds. 


ON    TYME.  161 

Tyme  for  to  eate  and  drynke  for  thy  repast ; 
Tyme  to  be  lyberall,  and  tyme  to  make  no  wast ; 

Tyme  to  trauell,  and  tyme  for  to  rest ; 

Tyme  for  to  speake,  and  tyme  to  holde   thy 


Tyme  would  be  vsed  when  tyme  is  best ; 

Tyme  to  begyn,  and  tyme  for  to  cease ;  20 

And  when  tyrne  is,  [to]  put  thyselfe  in  prease, 

And  when  tyme  is,  to  holde  thyselfe  abacke ; 

For  tyme  well  spent  can  neuer  haue  lacke. 

The  rotys  take  theyr  sap  in  tyme  of  vere  ; 
In  tyme  of  somer  flowres  fresh  and  grene  ; 

In  tyme  of  haruest  men  their  corne  shere  ; 

In  tyme  of  wynterthe  north  wynde  waxeth  kene, 
So  bytterly  bytynge  the  flowres  be  not  sene ; 

The  kalendis  of  Janus,  with  his  frostes  hore,       «» 

That  tyme  is  when  people  mustlyuevpon  the  store. 
Quod  Skelton,  Laureat. 


11 


162 


PRATER  TO  THE  FATHER  OF  HEAUEN. 

0  RADIANT  Luminary  of  lyght  intermynable, 
Celestial  Father,  potenciall  God  of  myght, 
Of  heauen  and  earth,  O  Lord  incomperable, 
Of  all  perfections  the  essencial  most  perfyght ! 
O  Maker  of  mankynde,  that  formyd  day  and 

nyghte, 
Whose    power  imperyal  comprehendeth   euery 

place  ! 
Myne  hert,  my  mynde,  my  thought,  my  hole 

delyght 
Is,  after  this  lyfe,  to  see  thy  glorious  face  : 

Whose  magnifycence  is  incomprehensybyll, 

All  argumentes  of  reason  which  far  doth  excede, 
Whose  Deite  dowtles  is  indiuysybyll,  « 

From  whom  all  goodnes  and  vertue  doth  pro- 
cede ; 

Of  thy  support  all  creatures  haue  nede  : 
Assyst  me,  good  Lord,  and  graunte  me  of  thy  grace, 

To  lyue  to  thy  pleasure  in  word,  thoughte,  and 

dede, 
And,  after  this  lyfe,  to  see  thy  glorious  face. 


PRAYERS.  163 


TO   THE    SECONDS   PAESON. 

0  BENYGNE  Jesu,  my  souerayne  Lord  and  Kynge, 

The  only  Sonne  of  God  by  filiacion, 
The  Seconde  Parson  withouten  beginnynge, 

Both  God  and  man  our  fayth  maketh  playne 
relacion, 

Mary  the   mother,  by  way  of  incarnacion, 
Whose  glorious  passion  our  soules  doth  reuyue ! 

Agayne  all  bodely  and  goostely  trybulacion 
Defende  me  with  thy  piteous  woundis  fyue. 

O  pereles  Prynce,  payned  to  the  deth, 

Rufully  rent,  thy  body  wan  and  bio,  "> 

For  my  redempcion  gaue  vp  thy  vytall  breth, 

Was  neuer  sorow  lyke  to  thy  dedly  wo  ! 

Graunte  me,  out  of  this  world  when  I  shall  go, 
Thyne  endles  mercy  for  my  preseruatyue  ; 

Agaynst  the  world,  the  flesh,  the  deuyl  also, 
Defende  me  wyth  thy  pyteous  woundis  fyue. 


TO    THE    HOLT    GOOSTE. 


O  FIRY  feruence,  inflamed  wyth  all  grace, 
Enkyndelyng  hertes  with  brandis  charitable, 


164 


The  endles  reward  of  pleasure  and  solace, 

To  the  Father  and  the  Son  thou  art  communi- 
cable 
In  unitate  which  is  inseperable ! 

O  water  of  lyfe,  O  well  of  consolacion  ! 

Agaynst  all  suggestions  dedly  and  dampnable 

Rescu  me,  good  Lorde,  by  your  preseruacion  : 

To  whome  is  appropryed  the  Holy  Ghost  by  name, 
The  Thyrde  Parson,  one  God  in  Triuite, 

Of  perfyt  loue  thou  art  the  ghostly  flame  : 

O  myrrour  of  mekenes,  pease,  and  tranquylyte, 
My  confort,  my  counsell,  my  parfyt  charyte ! 

O  water  of  lyfe,  0  well  of  consolacion  ! 
Agaynst  all  stormys  of  harde  aduersyte 

Rescu  me,  good  Lord,  by  thy  preseruacion. 
Amen. 

Quod  Skelton,  Laureat. 


WOFFULLY    ARAID.  165 


WOFFULLY  araid,* 

My  blode,  man, 

For  the  ran, 
It  may  not  be  naid  ; 

My  body  bloo  and  wan, 
Woffully  araid. 

Beholde  me,  I  pray  the",  with  all  thi  hole  reson, 
And  be  not  so  hard  hartid,  and  ffor  this  encheson, 
Sith  I  for  thi  sowle  sake  was  slayne  in  good  se§on, 
Begylde  and  betraide  by  Judas  fals  treson ;         10 
Vnkyndly  entretid, 
With  sharpe  corde  sore  fretid, 
The  Jewis  me  thretid, 

They  mowid,  they  grynned,  they  scornyd  me, 
Condempnyd  to  deth,  as  thou  maist  se, 
Woffully  araid. 


*  From  the  Fairfax  MS.  (which  once  belonged  to  Ralph 
Thoresby,  and  now  forms  part  of  the  Additional  MSS.,  5466, 
in  the  British  Museum),  where  it  occurs  twice,— (fol.  76  and, 
4ess  perfectly,  fol.  86);  collated  with  a  copy  written  in  a  very 
old  hand  on  the  fly-leaves  of  Soetius  de  Discip.  Schol.  cum  no- 
tabili  commento,  Daventrie,  1496,  4to.  (in  the  collection  of  the 
late  Mr.  Heber),  which  has  supplied  several  stanzas  not  in 
the  Fairfax  MS.  It  was  printed  from  the  latter,  not  very 
correctly,  by  Sir  John  Hawkins,  Hist,  of  Music,  ii.  89.  I  have 
followed  the  metrical  arrangement  of  the  MS.  in  the  Boetiva. 


166  WOFFULLY    AKAID. 

Thus  nakyd  am  I  nailid,  0  man,  for  thy  sake ! 
I  loue  the,  then  loue  me;  why  slepist  thou?  awake ! 
Remembir  my  tendir  hart  rote  for  the  brake,      » 
With  panys  my  vaynys  constreyn[e]d  to  crake ; 
Thus  toggid  to  and  fro, 
Thus  wrappid  all  in  woo, 
Whereas  neuer  man  was  so, 
Entretid  thus  in  most  cruell  wyse, 
Was  like  a  lorn  be  offerd  in  sacrifice, 
Woffully  araid. 

Off  sharpe  thorne  I  haue  worne  a  crowne  on  my 

hede, 

So  paynyd,  so  straynyd,  so  rufull,  so  red ; 
Thus  bobbid,  thus  robbid,1  thus  for  thy  loue  ded, 
Oufaynyd  2  not  deynyd  my  blod  for  to  shed  ;       » 
My  fete  and  handes  sore 
The  sturdy  nailis  bore ; 
What  myjt  I  suffir  more 
Than  I  haue  don,  0  man,  for  the  ? 
Cum  when  thou  list,  wellcum  to  me, 
Woffully  araide.8 

Off  record  thy  good  Lord  y  haue  beyn  and  schal 

bee; 
Y  am  thyn,  thou  artt  myne,  my  brother  y  call  thee 

1  bobbid  .  .  robbid}  MS.  in  the  Boetius, "  bowde  .  .  rowyd." 

2  Onfaynyd]  MS.  in  the  Boetius,  "  Unfraynyd." 

»  Woffully  araide]  Here  the  Fairfax  MS.  concludes :  what 
follows  is  given  from  the  MS.  in  the  Boetiui. 


WOFFULLY    ARAID.  167 

The  love  I  enterly ;  see  wbatt  ys  befall  me  ! 
Sore  bettyng,  sore  tbretyng,  too  mak  thee,  man, 
all  fre  : 

Wby  art  thou  wnkynde  ? 
Why  hast  nott  mee  yn  mynde  ? 
Cum  }ytt,  and  thou  schalt  fynde 
Myne  endlys  mercy  and  grace ; 
See  how  a  spere  my  hert  dyd  race, 
Woyfully  arayd. 

Deyr  brother,  noo  other  thyng  y  off  thee  desyre 
Butt  gyve  me  thyne  hert  fre  to  rewarde  myn  byre : 
Y  wroujt  the",  I  bowg^t  the"  frome  eternal  fyre  ; 
Y  pray  the  aray  the  tooward  my  hyjt  empyre,     so 
Above  a  the  oryent, 
Wheroff  y  am  regent, 
Lord  God  omnypotent, 
Wyth  me  too  reyn  yn  endlys  welthe ; 
Remember,  man,  thy  sawlys  helthe. 

Woofully  arayd, 

My  blode,  man, 

For  the"  rane, 
Hytt  may  nott  be  nayd ; 

My  body  blow  and  wane,  «c 

Woyfully  arayde. 

Explicit  qd.  Skelton. 

i  Abwe]  MS.  "  I  love." 


168  NOW    STNGE    WE,    &C. 


Now  synge  we,  as  we  were  wont, 
Vexilla  regis  prodeunt.  * 

The  kinges  baner  on  felde  is  [s]playd, 
The  crosses  mistry  can  not  be  nayd, 
To  whom  our  Sauyour  was  betray d, 

And  for  our  sake  ; 
Thus  sayth  he, 
I  suffre  for  the", 

My  deth  I  take. 

Now  synge  we,  &c. 

Beholde  my  shankes,  behold  my  knees, 
Beholde  my  hed,  armes,  and  thees, 
Beholde  of  me  nothyng  thou  sees 

But  sorowe  and  pyne ; 
Thus  was  I  spylt, 
Man,  for  thy  gylte, 

And  not  for  myne. 

Now  synge  we,  &c. 


*  From  Bibliographical  Miscellanies  (edited  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Bliss),  1813,  4to,  p.  48,  where  it  is  given  from  an  imperfect 
volume  (or  fragments  of  volumes)  of  black-letter  Christmas 
CaroUes,  partly  (but  probably  not  wholly)  printed  by  Kele. 


NOW    SYNGE    WE,    &C.  169 

Behold  my  body,  how  Jewes  it  donge 

With  knots  of  whipcord  and  scourges  strong ; 

As  stremes  of  a  well  the  blode  out  sprang 

On  euery  syde  ;  2° 

The  knottes  were  knyt, 
Eyght  well  made  with  wyt, 

They  made  woundes  wyde. 
Now  synge  we,  &c. 

Man,  thou  shalt  now  vnderstand, 
Of  my  head,  bothe  fote  and  hand, 
Are  four  c.  and  fyue  thousand 

Woundes  and  sixty ; 
Fifty  and  vii. 
Were  tolde  full  euen 

Vpon  my  body.  3° 

Now  synge  we,  &c. 

Syth  I  for  loue  bought  the*  so  dere, 

As  thou  may  se  thy  self  here, 

I  pray  the*  with  a  ryght  good  chere 

Loue  me  agayne, 
That  it  lykes  me 
To  suffre  for  the" 

Now  all  this  payne. 

Now  synge  we,  &c. 

Man,  vnderstand  now  thou  shall, 

In  sted  of  drynke  they  gaue  me  gall, 

And  eysell  mengled  therwithall,  « 


170  NOW   SYNGE   WE,    &C. 

The  Jewes  fell ; 
These  paynes  on  me 
I  suffred  for  the* 

To  bryng  the*  fro  hell. 

Now  synge  we,  &.c. 

Now  for  thy  lyfe  thou  hast  mysled, 

Mercy  to  aske  be  thou  not  adred ; 

The  lest  drop  of  blode  that  I  for  the"  bled 

Myght  dense  the"  soone 
Of  all  the  syn 
The  worlde  within, 

If  thou  haddest  doone.' 

Now  synge  we,  &c. 

I  was  more  wrother  with  Judas, 
For  he  wold  no  mercy  aske, 
Than  I  was  for  his  trespas 

Whan  he  me  solde ; 
I  was  euer  redy 
To  graunt  hym  mercy, 

But  he  none  wolde. 

Now  synge  we,  &c. 

Lo,  how  I  hold  my  armes  abrode, 

The*  to  receyue  redy  isprode  ! 

For  the  great  loue  that  I  to  the"  had 

Well  may  thou  knowe, 
Some  loue  agayne 
I  wolde  full  fayne 


NOW   SYNGE    WE,   &C.  171 

Thou  woldest  to  me  shewe. 
Now  synge  we,  &c. 

For  loue  I  aske  nothyng  of  the" 

But  stand  fast  in  faythe,  and  syn  thou  fle, 

And  payne  to  lyue  in  honeste 

Bothe  nyght  and  day  ; 

And  thou  shalt  have  blys  70 

That  neuer  shall  mys 

Withouten  nay. 

Now  synge  we,  &c. 

Now,  Jesu,  for  thy  great  goodnes, 
That  for  man  suffred  great  hardnes, 
Saue  vs  fro  the  deuyls  cruelnes, 

And  to  blys  us  send, 
And  graunt  vs  grace 
To  se  thy  face 

Withouten  ende. 

Now  synge  we,  &c. 


172  I,    LIBER,    &C. 


["  CCCCXXXII. 

"  Codex  membranaceus  in  4to,  seculo  xiv  scrip- 
tus,Jiguris  illuminatis,  sed  injuria  temporis  pene 
deletis  ornatus,  in  quo  continetur, 

I.  Polichronitudo  basileos  sive  historia  belli 
quod  Ricardus  I.  gessit  contra  Sarracenos,  Gallice. 

Hoc  opus  Skeltono  ascribitur  a  Cl.  Stanleio ; 
primo  autem  intuitu  satis  liquet  codicem  ipsum 
longe  ante  tempus  quo  claruit  Skeltonus  fuisse 
scriptum,  ab  eoque  regi  dono  missum,  ut  testantur 
sequentes  versus  diverso  et  recenti  caractere  primee 
pagince  inscripti :  *] 

I,  liber,  et  propera,  regem  tu  promts  adora  ; 
Me  sibi  commendes  humilem  Skeltonida  vatem : 
Ante  suam  majestatem,  (per  ccetera  passim,) 
Inclyta  bella  refer,  gessit  quce  maximus  heros 
Anglorum,  primus  nostra  de  gente  Ricardus, 
Hector  ut  intrepidus,  contra  validissima  castra 
Gentis  Agarence  ;  memora  quos  ille  labores, 
Quos  tulit  angores,  qualesque  recepit  honores. 
Sed 

Chronica  Francorum,  validis  inimica  Britannis, 
Scepe  solent  celebres  Britonum  compescere  laudes. 

*  Nasmith's  Catal.  Libr.  Manuscript,  quos  Coll.  Corporis 
Christi  et  £.  Maria  Virginia  in  Acad.  Cantabrig.  kgavit  Rev- 
erendiss.  in  Christo  Pater  Matthasus  Parker,  Archiepisc.  Can- 
tuar.  p.  400.  1777,  4to. 


WAKE    THE    HAUKE.  173 


HERE   AFTER    FOLOWETH    THE    BOKE    EVTTTULED 

WAKE    THE    HAUKE,* 

PER   SKELTON,  LAUREAT. 

PROLOGUS    SKEL.TONIDIS    LAUREATI     SUPER  WAKE   THE 
HAWKE. 

THIS  worke  deuysed  is 

For  such  as  do  amys ; 

And  specyally  to  controule 

Such  as  haue  cure  of  soule,, 

That  be  so  f'arre  abused, 

They  cannot  be  excused 

By  reason  nor  by  law  ; 

But  that  they  play  the  daw, 

To  hawke,  or  els  to  hunt 

From  the  aulter  to  the  funte,  10 

With  cry  vnreuerent, 

Before  the  sacrament, 

Within  the  holy  church  bowndis, 

That  of  our  faith  the  grounde  is. 

That  pryest  that  hawkys  so, 

.All  grace  is  farre  him  fro ; 

*'  From  the  ed.  by  Kynge  and  Marche  of  Certaine  boket 
compyled  by  mayster  Skelton,  n.  d.,  collated  with  the  same 
work,  ed.  Day,  n.  d.,  and  ed.  Lant,  n.  d.,  and  with  Marshe's 
ed.  of  Skelton's  Workes,  1568. 


t 


174  WABE    THE    HAUKE. 

He  semeth  a  sysmatyke, 
Or  els  an  heretyke, 
For  fayth  in  him  is  faynte. 
Therefore  to  make  complaynte 
Of  such  mysaduysed 
Parsons  and  dysgysed, 
This  boke  we  haue  deuysed, 
Compendiously  comprysed, 
No  good  priest  to  offende, 
But  suche  dawes  to  amende, 
In  hope  that  no  man  shall 
Be  myscontent  withall. 

I  shall  you  make  relacion, 
By  waye  of  apostrofacion, 
Vnder  supportacion 
Of  youre  pacyent  tolleracion, 
How  I,  Skelton  Laureat, 
Deuysed  and  also  wrate 
Vpon  a  lewde  curate, 
A  parson  benyfyced, 
But  nothing  well  aduysed : 
He  shall  be  as  now  nameles, 
But  he  shall  not  be  blameles, 
Nor  he  shal  not  be  shameles  ; 
For  sure  he  wrought  amys, 
To  hawke  in  my  church  of  Dis. 
This  fonde  frantyke  fauconer, 
With  his  polutid  pawtenar, 
As  priest  vnreuerent, 
Streyght  to  the  sacrament 


WARE    THE    HAUKE.  175 

He  made  his  hawke  to  fly, 

With  hogeous  showte  and  cry. 

The  hye  auter  he  strypt  naked  ; 

There  on  he  stode,  and  craked ;  so 

He  shoke  dovvne  all  the  clothis, 

And  sware  horrible  othes 

Before  the  face  of  God, 

By  Moyses  and  Arons  rod, 

Or  that  he  thens  yede, 

His  hawke  shoulde  pray  and  fede 

Vpon  a  pigeons  maw. 

The  bloude  ran  downe  raw 

Vpon  the  auter  stone  ; 

The  hawke  tyrid  on  a  bonne  ;  » 

And  in  the  holy  place 

She  mutid  there  a  chase 

Vpon  my  corporas  face. 

Such  sacrijtcium  laudis 

He  made  with  suche  gambawdis. 

OBSERVATE. 

His  seconde  hawke  wexid  gery, 

And  was  with  flying  wery ; 

She  had  flowin  so  oft, 

That  on  the  rode  loft 

She  perkyd  her  to  rest.  n 

The  fauconer  then  was  prest, 

Came  runnyng  with  a  dow, 

And  cryed,  Stow,  stow,  stow ! 

But  she  would  not  bow. 


176  WARE    THE    HAUKE. 

He  then,  to  be  sure, 

Callid  her  with  a  lure. 

Her  mete  was  very  crude, 

She  had  not  wel  endude  ; 

She  was  not  clene  ensaymed, 

She  was  not  well  reclaymed : 

But  the  fawconer  vnfayued 

Was  much  more  febler  brayned. 

The  hawke  had  no  lyst 

To  come  to  hys  fyst ; 

She  loked  as  she  had  the  frounce : 

With  that  he  gaue  her  a  bounce 

Full  vpon  the  gorge : 

I  wyll  not  fayne  nor  forge  ; 

The  hawke  with  that  clap 

Fell  downe  with  euyll  hap. 

The  church  dores  were  sparred, 

Fast  boltyd  and  barryd, 

Yet  wyth  a  prety  gyn 

I  fortuned  to  come  in, 

This  rebell  to  beholde, 

Wherof  I  hym  controlde  ; 

But  he  sayde  that  he  woulde, 

Agaynst  my  mynde  and  wyll, 

In  my  churche  hawke  styll. 

CONSIDERATE. 

On  Sainct  John  decollacion 
He  hawked  on  this  facion, 
Tempore  vesperarum, 
Sed  non  secundum  Sarum, 


WARE    THE    HAUKE.  177 

But  lyke  a  Marche  harura, 

His  braynes  were  so  parum. 

He  sayde  he  would  not  let 

His  houndis  for  to  fet, 

To  hunte  there  by  lyberte 

In  the  dyspyte  of  me, 

And  to  halow  there  the  fox :  no 

Downe  went  my  offerynge  box, 

Boke,  bell,  and  candyll, 

All  that  he  myght  handyll : 

Cros,  staffe,  lectryne,  and  banner, 

Fell  downe  on  this  manner. 

DELIBERATE. 

With,  troll,  cytrace,  and  trouy, 

They  ranged,  hankin  bouy, 

My  churche  all  aboute. 

This  fawconer  then  gan  showte, 

These  be  my  gospellers,  120 

These  be  my  pystillers, 

These  be  my  querysters, 

To  helpe  me  to  synge, 

My  hawkes  to  mattens  rynge. 

In  this  priestly  gydynge 

His  hawke  then  flew  vppon 

The  rode  with  Mary  and  John. 

Delt  he  not  lyke  a  fon  ? 

Delt  he  not  lyke  a  daw  ? 

Or  els  is  this  Goddes  law,  i» 

Decrees  or  decretals, 

VOL.  i.  12 


178  WARE    THE    HAUKE. 

Or  holy  sinodals, 
Or  els  prouincials, 
Thus  within  the  wals 
Of  holy  church  to  deale, 
Thus  to  rynge  a  peale 
With  his  hawkis  bels  ? 
Dowtles  such  losels 
Make  the  churche  to  be 
In  smale  auctoryte : 
A  curate  in  speciall 
To  snappar  and  to  fall 
Into  this  open  cryme  ; 
To  loke  on  this  were  tyme. 


But  who  so  that  lokys 

In  the  officiallis  bokis, 

Ther  he  may  se  and  reed 

That  this  is  matter  indeed. 

How  be  it,  mayden  Meed 

Made  theym  to  be  agreed, 

And  so  the  Scrybe  was  feed, 

And  the  Pharasay 

Than  durst  nothing  say, 

But  let  the  matter  slyp, 

And  made  truth  to  trip  ; 

And  of  the  spiritual  law 

They  made  but  a  gewgaw,. 

And  toke  it  out  in  drynke, 

And  this  the  cause  doth  shrynke  : 


WARE    THE    HAUKE.  179 

The  church  is  thus  abused,  iso 

Reproched  and  pollutyd : 
Correccion  hath  no  place, 
And  all  for  lacke  of  grace. 

DEFLORATE. 

Loke  now  in  Exodi, 

And  de  area  Domini, 

With  Regum  by  and  by  ; 

The  Bybyll  wyll  not  ly  ; 

How  the  Temple  was  kept, 

How  the  Temple  was  swept, 

Where  sanguis  taurorum,  iro 

Aut  sanguis  vitulorum, 

Was  offryd  within  the  wallis, 

After  ceremoniallis  ; 

When  it  was  poluted, 

Sentence  was  executed, 

By  wey  of  expiaciou, 

For  reconciliacion. 

DIVINITATE.1 

Then  muche  more,  by  the  rode, 

Where  Christis  precious  blode 

Dayly  offred  is,  .  i» 

To  be  poluted  this  ; 

And  that  he  wyshed  withall 

That  the  dowues  donge  downe  might  fal 

i  Divinitate]  Qy.  "  Divinate  V  " 


180  WARE    THE    HA.UKE. 

Into  my  chalis  at  mas, 
When  consecrated  was 
The  blessed  sacrament : 

0  prieest  vnreuerent ! 

He  sayde  that  he  woulde  hunt 
From  the  aulter  to  the  funt. 

EEFOKMATE. 

Of  no  tyrande  I  rede, 
That  so  farre  dyd  excede  * 
Neyther  yet  Dioclesyan, 
Nor  yet  Domisian, 
Nor  yet  croked  Cacus, 
Nor  yet  dronken  Bacus  ; 
Nother  Olibrius, 
Nor  Dionisyus ; 
Nother  Phalary, 
Rehersed  in  Valery  ; 
Nor  Sardanapall, 
Vnhappiest  of  all ; 
Nor  Nero  the  worst, 
Nor  Clawdius  the  curst ; 
Nor  yet  Egeas, 
Nor  yet  Syr  Pherumbras ; 
Nother  Zorobabell, 
Nor  cruel  Jesabell ; 
Nor  yet  Tarquinius, 
Whom  Tytus  Liuius 
In  wrytynge  doth  enroll ; 

1  haue  red  them  poll  by  poll ; 


WARE    THE    HATJKE.  181 

The  story  of  Arystobell, 

And  of  Constantinopell, 

Whiche  citye  miscreantys  wan, 

And  slew  many  a  Christen  man  ; 

Yet  the  Sowden,  nor  the  Turke, 

Wrought  neuer  suche  a  worke, 

For  to  let  theyr  hawkes  fly 

In  the  Church  of  Saint  Sophy ; 

With  much  matter  more,  z» 

That  I  kepe  in  store. 

PENSITATE. 

Then  in  a  tabull  playne 

I  wroute  a  verse  or  twayne, 

Whereat  he  made  dysdayne  : 

The  pekysh  parsons  brayne 

Cowde  not  rech  nor  attayne 

What  the  sentence  ment ; 

He  sayde,  for  a  crokid  intent 

The  wordes  were  paruerted  : 

And  this  he  ouerthwarted.  230 

Of  the  which  proces 

Ye  may  know  more  expres, 

If  it  please  you  to  loke 

In  the  resydew  of  this  boke. 

Here  after  followeth  the  tabull. 

Loke  on  this  tabull, 
Whether  thou  art  abull 


182  WARE    THE    HAUKE. 

To  rede  or  to  spell 
What  these  verses  tell. 

Sicculo  lutueris  est  colo  buraard  * 
Nixphedras  uisarum  caniuter  tuntantes  2 
Raterplas  Natdbrian  8  umsudus  itnugenus. 
18  .  10  .  2  .  11  .  19  .  4  .  13  .  3  .  3  .  1  .  teualet* 
Chartula  stet,precor,  hcec  nullo  temeranda  petulco: 
Hos  rapiet  numeros  non  homo,  sed  mala  bos. 
Exparte  rem  chartce  adverte  aperte,  pone  Musam 
Arethusam  hanc. 

Whereto  should  I  rehers 

The  sentence  of  my  vers?  «« 

In  them  be  no  scholys 

For  braynsycke  frantycke  folys  : 

Oonstruas  hoc, 

Domine  Dawcocke ! 

Ware  the  hawke ! 
Maister  sophista, 
Ye  simplex  syllogista, 
Ye  deuelysh  dogmatista, 
Your  hawke  on  your  fista, 

1  bUraara]  In  Day's  ed.  the  final  letter  of  this  word  being 
blurred  looks  like  &d;  and  Marshe's  ed.  has  "bunraard." 
The  meaning  of  this  "  tabull  playne  "  is  quite  beyond  my 
comprehension. 

2  tuntantes]  Marshe's  ed.  "  tauntantes." 

8  Natdbrian]    Eds.   of  Day,  and  Marshe,  "  Natanbrian." 
The  Editor  of  1736  prints  "  Natanbrianum  sudus." 
<  teualet]  Perhaps,  "  ten  (10)  valet." 


WARE    THE    HAUKE.  183 

To  hawke  when  you  lista  a» 

In  ecclesia  ista, 

Domine  concupisti,1 

With  thy  hawke  on  thy  fisty  ? 

Nunquid  sic  dixisti  ? 

Nunquid  sic  fecisti  ? 

Sed  ubi  hoc  legisti 

Aut  unde  hoc, 

Doctor  Dawcocke  ? 

Ware  the  hawke ! 

Doctor  Dialetica,  sw 

Where  fynde  you  in  Hypothetica, 
Or  in  Categoria, 
Latino,  sive  Dorica, 
To  vse  your  hawkys  forica 
In  propttiatorio, 
Tanquam  diversorio  ? 
Unde  hoc, 
Domine  Dawcocke  ? 

Ware  the  hawke ! 

Saye  to  me,  Jacke  Harys,  wo 

Quare  aucuparis 
Ad  sacramentum  altaris  ? 
For  no  reuerens  thou  sparys 
To  shake  my  pygeons  federis 
Super  arcam  fcederis  : 
Unde  hoc, 
Doctor  Dawcocke  ? 

Ware  the  hawke ! 
l  c&ncupisti]  Eds.  "  racapisti  "  and  "  cacapisti." 


184  WARE    THE    HAUKE. 

Sir  Dominus  vobiscum, 
Per  aucupium 

\      Ye  made  your  hawke  to  cum 
I     Desuper  candelabrum 
Christi  crucifixi 
To  fede  vpon  your  fisty : 
Die,  inimice  crucis  Christi, 
Ubi  didicisti 
Facer e  hoc, 
Domine  Dawcocke? 

Ware  the  hawke ! 
Apostata  Julianus, 
Nor  yet  Nestorianus, 
Thou  shalt  no  where  rede 
That  they  dyd  suche  a  dede, 
To  let  theyr  hawkys  fly 
Ad  ostium  tabernaculi, 
In  quo  est  corpus  Domini: 
Cave  hoc, 
Doctor  Dawcocke ! 

Ware  the  hawke ! 
This  dowtles  ye  rauyd, 
Dys  church  ye  thus  deprauyd ; 
Wherfore,  as  I  be  sauyd, 
Ye  are  therefore  beknauyd : 
Quare  ?  quia  Evangelia, 
Concha  et  conchylia, 
Accipiter  et  sonalia, 
Et  bruta  animalia, 
Ccetera  quoque  talia 


WARE    THE    HAUKE.  185 

Tibi  sunt  cequalia : 

Uhde  hoc,  sio 

Domine  Dawcocke? 

Ware  the  hawke! 
Et  relis  et  ralis, 
Et  reliqualis, 
From  Granado  to  Galis, 
From  Wynchelsee  to  Walys, 
Non  est  braynsycke  tails, 
Nee  minus  rationales, 
Nee  magis  bestialis, 

That  synggys  with  a  chalys :  320 

Constructs  hoc, 
Doctor  Dawcocke ! 

Ware  the  hawke ! 
Masyd,  wytles,  smery  smyth, 
Hampar  with  your  hammer  vpon  thy  styth, 
And  make  hereof  a  syckyll  or  a  saw, 
For  thoughe  ye  lyue  a  c.  yere,  ye  shall  dy  a  daw. 

Vos  valete, 

Doctor  indiscrete  ! 


8KELTONIS     APOSTEOPHAT    AD     DIVUM    JOHANNEM     DECOL- 
LATUM,   IN   CUJUS  PROFESTO   FIEBAT  HOC  AUCUPIUM. 

0  memoranda  dies,  qua,  decollate  Johannes, . 
Aucupium  facit,  haud  quondam  quod  fecerit,  intra 
Ecclesiam  de  Dis,  violans  tua  sacra  sacrorum  ! 


186  DE    LIBERA    DICACITATE,    &C. 

Rector  de  Whipstok,  doctor  cognomine  Daucock, 
Et  dominus  Wodcock  ;  probat  is,  probat  hie,  pro- 
bat  hcec  hoc. 


IDEM  !  DE  LIBERA  DICACITATE  POETICA   IN  ^EXTOLLENDA 
PEOBITATE,   ET  IN  PERFRICANDA   IGNOBILITATE. 

L/ibertas  veneranda  piis  concessa  poetis 

Dicendi  est  qucecunque  placent,  qucecunque  juva- 

bunt, 

Vel  qucecunque  vahntjustas  defendere  causas, 
Vel  qucecunque  valent  stolidos  mordere  petulcos. 
Ergo  dabis  veniam. 

Quod  Skelton,  laureat. 

i  Idem,  ^c.]  These  lines  follow  Ware  the  Hawk  in  all  the 
eds. 


EPITAPHE.  187 


EPITHAPHE* 

THIS  tretise  devysed  it  is 
Of  two  knaues  somtyme  of  Dis. 
Though  this  knaues  be  deade, 
Full  of  myschiefe  and  queed, 
Yet,  where  so  euer  they  ly, 
Theyr  names  shall  neuer  dye. 

Compendium  de  duobus  versipellibus,  John  Jay- 
berd)  et  Adam  all  a  knaue,  deque  illorum  no- 
tissima  vilitate. 


A  DEUOUTE  TBENTALE  FOB  OLD  JOHN  CLARKE,  SOMETYME 
THE  HOLY  PATBIARKE  OF  DIS. 

Sequitur  trigintale 
Tale  quale  rationale, 
Licet  parum  curiale, 
Tamen  satis  estformale, 
Joannis  Glerc,  hominis 
Cujusdam  multinominis, 

»  From  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Workes,  1568. 


188  EPITAPHE. 

Joannes  Jayberd  qui  vocatur, 

Clerc  cleribus  nuncupatur. 

Obiit  sanctus  iste  pater 

Anno  Domini  MD.  sexto. 

In  parochia  de  Dis 

Non  erat  sibi  similis  ; 

In  malitia  vir  insignis, 

Duplex  corde  et  bilinguis  ; 

Senio  confectus, 

Omnibus  suspectus, 

Nemini  dilectus, 

Sepultus  est  amonge  the  wedes  : 

God  forgeue  hym  his  mysdedes  ! 


Didce  melos 
Penetrans  ccelos. 

Carmina  cum  cannis 
cantemus  festa  Joannis: 
Clerk  obiit  vere, 
Jayberd  nomenque  dedere  ; 
Dis  populo  natus, 
Clerk  cleribus  estque  vocatus, 
Hie  vir  Chaldaus, 
nequam  ver,  ceu  Jebusceus, 
In  Christum  Domini 
Jremuit  de  more  cameli, 
Rectori  proprio 
tarn  verba  retorta  loquendo 


EPITAPHE.  189 

Unde  resultando- 
que  Acheronta  1  boando  tonaret. 
Nunquam  sincere 
solitus  sua  crimina  jlere  ; 
Cui  male  lingua  loquax- 
que  dicax  mendaxque,  fuere 
Et  mores  tales 

resident  in  nemine  quales  ;  20 

Carpens  vitales 
auras,  turbare  sodales 
Et  cines  socios, 
asimus,  mulus  velut,  et  bos. 
Omne  suum  studium 
rubeum  pictum  per  amictum 
Discolor  ;  et  victum 
faciens  semper  maledictum 
Ex  intestinis  ovium- 
que  boumque  caprorum  ;  so 

Tendens  adque  forum, 
fragmentum  colligit  horum 
Dentibus  exemptis 
mastigat  cumque  polenlis 

i  que  Acheronta,  $c que  dicax,  ^c.]  Perhaps  these 

passages  ought  to  be  arranged  thus  for  the  sake  of  the  rhyme ; 
"  que  Acheronta  boando 
tonaret.    Nunquam  sincere,1'  $c. 

"  que,  dicax  mendax- 
que, fuere  Et  mores  tales,"  $c. 

But  from  the  rest  of  the  poem  it  seems  that  Skelton  intended 
each  hexameter  to  be  cut  only  into  two  parts. 


190  EPITAPHE. 

Lanigerum  caput  aut  ovis 1 

aut  vacccp.  mugientis. 

Quidpetis,  hie  sit  quis  ? 

John  Jayberd,  incola  de  Dis  ; 

Oui,  dum  vixerat  is, 

sociantur  jurgia,  vis,  Us.  « 

Jamjacet  Me  starke  deed, 
Neuer  a  toth  in  his  heed. 
Adieu,  Jayberd,  adue, 
I  faith,  dikkon  thou  crue ! 
Fratres,  orate 
For  this  knauate, 
By  the  holy  rode, 
Dyd  neuer  man  good : 
I  pray  you  all, 

And  pray  shall,  *> 

At  this  trentall 
On  knees  to  fall 
To  the  fote  ball ; 
With,  fill  the  blak  bowle 
For  Jayberdes  sowle. 

JBibite  multum : 
Ecce  sepultum 
Sub  pede  stultum, 

Asinum,  et  mulum  !  « 

The  deuill  kis  his  culum!  so 

Wit[h],  hey,  howe,  rumbelowe, 

i  caput  cut  ovis]  Ed.  "  caput  capnt."  I  give  the  conjectu- 
ral reading  of  the  Rev.  J.  Mitford.  The  rhyme  suggests  (but 
the  metre  will  not  allow)  "  bidentis." 


EPITAPHE.  191 

Rumpopulorum, 

Per  omnia  secula  seculorum  !     Amen. 

Requiem,  fyc. 

Per  Fredericum  ffely, 
Fratrem  de  Monte  Carmeli, 
Qui  condunt  sine  sale 
Hoc  devotum  trigintale. 
Vale  Jayberd,  valde  male  ! 


Adam  Vddersall,1 
Alias  dictus  Adam  all 

a  knaue,  his 

Epitaph  foloweth  deuoutly  ; 
He  was  somtime  the  holy 

Baillyue  of  Dis. 

Of  Dis 

Adam  degebat : 

dum  vixit,  falsa  gerebat, 

i  Vddersall,  cfc.J  In  this  passage  I  have  adopted  the 
rangement  proposed  by  the  Rev.  J.  Mitford. — Ed.  thus : 
"  Adam  Vddersale.  alias  dictus 
Adam  all.  a  knaue  his  Epitaph. 
Foloweth  deuoutly, 
He  was  somtime  the  holy 
baillyueofdis." 


192  EPITAPHE.       ' 

Namque  extorquebat 
quicquid  nativus  habebat, 
Aut  liber  natus  ;  rapidus 
lupus  inde  vocatus  : 
Ecclesiamque  satus 
de  Belial  iste  Pilatus 
Sub  pede  calcatus 
violavit,  nunc  violatus  : 
Perfidus,  iratus, 

numquam  fuit  itte  beatus:  w 

Uddersall  stratus 
benedictis  est  spoliatus, 
Improbus,  inflatus, 
maledictis  jam  laceratus : 
Dis,1  tibi  bacchatus 
ballivus  prcedominatus : 
Hie  fuit  ingratus, 

porcus  velut  insatiatus,  » 

Pinguis,  crassatus  ; 
velut  Agag  sit  reprobatus  ! 
Crudelisque  Cacus 
barathro,  peto,  sit  tumulatus  ! 
Belsabub  his  soule  saue, 
Qui  jacet  hie,  like  a  knaue! 
Jam  scio  mortuus  est, 
fit  jacet  hie,  like  a  best. 

iDis,tiM,  ^c.]  The  emendation  of  the  Rev.  J.  Mitford: 
compare  above,  "  Baillyue  of  Dis." — Ed. 
"  Sis  tibi  baccattu 
Balians  prcedominatus." 


EPITAPHE.  193 

Anima  ejus 

De  malo  in  pejus.         Amen.  ao 

De  Dis  hcec  semper  erit  camena, 
Adam  Uddersall  sit  anathema  ! 

Auctore  Skelton,  rectors  de  Dis. 

Finis,  3?c.  Apud  Trumpinton  scriptum  per 
Curatum  ejusdem,  quinto  die  Januarii  Anno 
Domini,  secundum  computat.  Anglia,  MDVII. 

Adam,  Adam,  ubi  es  ?  Genesis.  Re.  Vbi  nulla 
requies,  ubi  nullus  ordo,  sed  sempiternus  horror 
inhabitat.  Job. 


13 


194  DILIGO    RUSTINCUM,    &C. 


Diligo  rustincum  *  cum  portant  bis  duo  quointum, 
Et  cantant  delos  est  mihi  dulce  melos. 
1.    Canticum  dolor  osum. 


LAMENTATIO  UEBIS   NORVICEN. 

0  lacrymosa  lues  nimis,  0  quam  flebile  fatum  ! 

Ignibus  exosis,  urbs  veneranda,  ruis  ; 
Fulmina  sive  Jovis  sive  ultima  fata  vocabant, 

Vulcani  rapidis  ignibus  ipsa  peris. 
Ah  decus,  ah  patrice  specie  pulcherrima  dudum  ! 

Urbs  Norvicensis  labitur  in  cineres. 
Urbs,  tibi  quid  referam  ?  breviter  tibi  pauca  re- 
ponam : 

Prosper  a  rara  manent,  utere  sorte  tua  ; 
Perpetuum  mortale  nihil,  sors  omnia  versat . 

Urbs  miseranda,  vale  !  sors  miseranda  tua  est. 

Skelton. 


*  This  and  the  following  piece  are  from  Marshe's  ed.  of 
Skelton's  Workes,  1568.  In  that  collection  the  present  coup- 
let is  twice  printed:  "  rustincum"  is  the  reading  of  the  first 
copy,  "rusticum"  (which  the  metre  will  not  admit)  of  the 
second :  the  first  copy  has  " quonintum,"  the  second  "quoin- 
turn  ; "  the  Editor  of  1736  gave  "  quantum."  See  notes  for 
the  conjectures  of  the  Rev.  J.  Mitford  on  this  enigma.  "  Can- 
ticum doforosum"  is  probably  part  of  the  title  of  the  next 
piece. 


IN    BEDEL,   &C.  195 


IN   BEDEL,   QUONDAM   BELIAL  INCABNATUM,   DEVOTUM 
EPITAPHIUM. 

Ismal,  ecce,  Bedel,  non  mel,  sed  fel,  sibi  des  el ! l 

Perfidus  Achitophel,  luridus  atque  lorell ; 
Nunc  olet  iste  Jebal,*  Nabal.  S.  Nabal,  ecce,  ri- 
baldus  ! 

Omnibus  exosus  atque  perosus  erat ; 
In  plateaque  cadens  animam  spiravit  oleto : 

Presbyteros  odiens  sic  sine  mente  ruit. 
Discite  vos  omnes  quid  sit  violare  sacratos 

Presbyteros,  quia  sic  corruit  iste  canis. 
Oocytus  cui  si  detur  3  per  Tartara  totus, 

Sit,  peto,  promotus  Cerberus  huncque  voret.      10 
At  mage  sanctu  tamen  mea  Musa  precabitur  alros 

Hos  lemuresque  eat  sic  Bedel  ad  superos  ; 
Non  eat,  immo  mat,  non  scandat,  sed  mage  tendat, 

Inque  caput  prteceps  mox  Acheronta  petal. 

Bedel.    Quanta  malignatus  est  inimicus  in  sanctol 

Psa.  73. 

Mortuus  est  asinus, 
Qui  pinxit  mulum : 


1  des  el]  The  Rev.  J.  Mitford  proposes  "  dorell." 

2  Jebal]  Qy.  ".label?  "  but  I  do  not  understand  the  line. 

8  «i  detur]  So  the  Rev.  J.  Mitford  reads.    Ed.  "  sic  petus." 


196  IN   BEDEL,    &C. 

Hie  jacet  barbarus  ; 

The  deuill  kys  his  calum!    Amen. 

Hanc  volo  transcribas,  transcriptam  moxque  re- 

mittas 

Pagellam  ;  quia  sunt  qui  mea  scripta  sciunt. 
Redd  I  ^tur  1u^a  sunt  3™  ma^a  cuncta  fremunt, 
Igitur  quia  sunt  qui  bona  cuncta  premunt. 
Nee  tamen  expaveo  de  fatuo  labio, 
Nee  multum  paveo  de  stolido  rabulo. 


SALVE,    &C.  197 


Salve  plus  *  decies  quam  sunt  momenta  dierum  ! 
Quotgenerum  species,  quot  res,  quot  nomina  rerum, 
Quot  prati  flores,  quot  sunt  et  in  orbe  colores, 
Quot  pisces,  quot  aves,  quot  sunt  et  in  eequore 

naves, 

Quot  volucrum  pennce,  quot  sunt  tormenta  gehennee, 
Quot  caeli  Stella,  quot  sunt  et  in  orbe  puellee, 
Quot  sancti  Romce,  quot  sunt  miracula  Thomas, 
Quot  sunt  virtutes,  tantas  tibi  mitto  salutes. 


*  From  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Works,  1568,  (where  it 
is  printed  on  the  reverse  of  the  title-page, )  collated  with  a 
copy  in  Additional  MSS.  Brit.  Mus.  (4787,  fol.  224,)  which 
is  headed  "  Ex  Jo.  Skeltono  Poeta  Laureate." 


198    EPITAPHIUM    IN    HENRICUM    SEPT1MUM. 


ORATOR  REGIUS  SKELTONIS  LAUREATUS  IN  SINGULARS 
MERITISSIMUMQUE  PR.ECONIUM  NOBILISSIMI  PEINCIPIS 
HENRICI  SEPTIMI,  NUPER  STRENUISSIMI  REGIS  ANGLI^K 
HOC  EPITAPHIUM  EDIDIT,  AD  SIXCERAM  CONTEMPLA- 
TIONEM  REVERENDI  IN  CHRISTO  PATRIS  AC  DOMINI, 
DOMINI  JOHANNIS  ISLIPPjE  ABBATIS  WESTMONASTERIEN- 
SIS  OPTIME  MERITI,  ANNO  DOMINI  MDXII.  PRIDIE  DIVI 
ANDRE-E  APOSTOLI,  &C.  * 

Tristia  Melpomenes  cogor  modo  plectra  sonare , 

Hos  elegos  foveat  Cynthius  ilk  meos. 
Si  quas  fata  movent  lacrymas,  lacrymare  videtur 

Jam  bene  maturum,  si  bene  mente  sapis. 
Flos  Britonum,  regum  speculum,  Salomonis  imago, 

Septimus  Henricus  mole  sub  hac  tegitur. 
Punica,  dum  regnat,  redolens  rosa  digna  vocari, 

Jam  jam  marcescit,  ceu  levis  umbra  fugit. 
Multa  novercantis  fortunce,  multa  faventis 

Passus,  et  infractus  tempus  utrumque  tulit.      " 
Nobilis  Anchises,  armis  meluendus  Atrides, 

Hie  erat ;  hunc  Scottus  rex  timuit  Jacobus. 
Spiramenta  animce  veaetans  dum  vescitur  aura, 

Francorum  populus  conticuit  pavidus. 


*  This  and  the  next  piece  from  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's 
Workes,  1568,  collated  with  the  poems  as  given  in  Reges, 
Regime,  NobUes,  et  alii  in  Ecclesia  Collegiata  B.  Peiri  West- 
monatterii  sepulti,  &c.,  1603,  4to. 


EULOGIUM  PRO  SUORUM  TEMPORUM,  &C.  199 

Immensas  sibi  divitias  cumulasse  quid  horres? 

Ni  cumulasset  opes,  forte,  Britanne,  luas. 
Urgentes  casus  tacita  si  menle  volutes, 
Vix  tibi  sufficeret  aurea  ripa  Tagi. 
Ni  sua  te  probitas  consulta  mente  laborans 

Rexissit  satius,  vix  tibi  tuta  salus.  20 

Sed  quid  plura  cano  ?  meditans  quid  plura  voluto  ? 

Quisque  vigil  sibi  sit :  mors  sine  lege  rapit. 
Ad  Dominum,  qui  cuncta  regit,  pro  principe  tanto 

Funde  preces  quisquis  carmina  nostra  legis. 

Vel  mage,*  si  placeat,  hunc  timuit  Jacobus, 
Scottorum  dominus,  qui  sua  fata  luit ; 
Quern  Leo  Candidior  Rubeum  necat  ense  Leonem, 
Et  jacet  usque  modo  non  tumulatus  humo. 

Refrigerii   sedem,  quietis   beatitudinem,  luminis 
habeat  claritatem.    Amen. 


EULOGIUM    PRO     SUOEUM    TEMPORUM    CONDITIONE,     TANTI8 

PRINCIPIBUS  NON  INDIGNUM,   PER  SKELTONIDA 

LAUREATUM,   ORATOREM   REGIUM. 

Hue,  pia  Calliope,  propera,  mea  casta  puella, 
Et  mecum  resona  carmina  plena  deo. 

*  humo}  Not  in  Reyes,  &c.  These  lines  (containing  an  allu- 
sion to  the  battle  of  Flodden)  are  of  a  later  date  than  the 
preceding  poem,  to  the  12th  verse  of  which  they  are  intended 
as  a  sort  of  note.  This  is  not  the  only  passage  in  our  author's 
Latin  pieces  where  two  pentameters  occur  without  an  inter- 
vening hexameter:  see  conclusion  of  The  GarlandeofLaureO. 


200    EULOGIUM    PRO    SUORUM    TEMPORUM,    &C. 

Septimus  ffenricus,  Britonum  memorabilia  heros, 

Anglica  terra,  tuus  magnanimus  Priamus, 
Attains  Me  opibus,  rigidus  Cato,  clarus  Acestes, 

Sub  gelido  clausus  marmore  jam  recubat. 
Sic  honor  omnis,  opes,  probitas,  sic  gloria  regum, 

Omnia  nutabunt  mortis  ad  imperium. 
Anglia,  num  lacrymas?   rides;  lacrymare  quid 
obstas  ? 

Dum  vixit,  lacrymas  ;  dum  moritur,  jubilas.    10 
Canta,  tamen  penses,  dum  vixerat,  Angligenenses 

Vibrabant  enses,  bella  nee  ulla  timent. 
Uhdique   bella  fremunt   nunc,   undique   preelia 
surgunt : 

Noster  honor  solus,  filius,  ecce,  suus  ! 
Noster  honor  solus,  qui  pondera  tanta  subire 

Non  timet,  intrepidus  arma  gerenda  vocat ; 
Arma  gerenda  vocat,  (superi  sua  coepta  secun- 
dent !) 

Ut  qualiat  Pallas  cegida  seepe  rogat, 
Sors  tamen  est  versanda  diu,  sors  ultima  belli  : 

Myrmidonum  dominus  Marte  silente  ruit ;       20 

Et  quern  non  valuit  validis  superare  sub  armis 

Mars,  tamen  occubuit  insidiis  Paridis. 
Nos  incerta  quidem  pro  certis  ponere  rebus 

Arguit,  et  prohibet  Delius  ipse  pater. 
Omnia  sunt  hominum  dubio  labentia  fato, 

Marte  sub  incerto  militat  omnis  homo. 
Omne   decus   nostrum,  nostra   et   spes   unica 
tantum, 

Jam  bene  qui  regnat,  hunc  Jovis  umbra  tegat  t 


TETRASTICIIOX.  201 

Ut  quamvis  mentem  labor  est  inhibere  volentem, 

Pauca  tamen  liceat  dicere  pace  sua :  so 

Pace  tua  liceat  mihi  nunc  tibi  dicere  pauca, 

Dulce  meum  decus,  et  sola  Britanna  salus. 
Summa  rei  nostrce  remanet,  celeberrime  princeps, 

In  te  prcecipuo,  qui  modo  sceptra  geris. 
Si  tibi  fata  favent,  faveant  precor  atque  precabor, 

Anglia,  tune  plaude  ;  sin  minus,  ipsa  vale. 

Polychronitudo  basileos. 


TETRASTICHOK  VERITATIS. 

Felix  qui  bustum  formasti,  rex,  tibi  cuprum  ; 
Auro  si  tectus  fueras,  fueras  spoliatus, 
Nudus,  prostratus,  tanta  est  rabiosa  cupido 
Undique  nummorum:  rex,  pace  precor  requiescas. 
Amen. 


202  AGAINST    THE    SCOTTES. 


SKELTON  LAUREATE  AGAINST  THE 
SCOTTES.* 

AGATNST  the  prowde  Scottes  clatterynge, 
That  neuer  wyll  leaue  tbeyr  tratlynge  : 
Wan  they  the  felde,  and  lost  theyr  kynge  ? 
They  may  well  say,  fye  on  that  wynnynge ! 

Lo,  these  fonde  sottes 

And  tratlynge  Scottes, 

How  the!  are  blynde 

In  theyr  owne  mynde, 

And  wyll  not  know 

Theyr  ouerthrow  M 

At  Branxton  more ! 

They  are  so  stowre, 

So  frantyke  mad, 

They  say  they  had 

And  wan  the  felde 

With  spere  and  shelde : 

*  The  following  pieces,  called  forth  by  the  battle  of  Flod- 
den,  and  the  lines  on  the  Battle  of  the  Spurs  annexed  to  them, 
are  from  the  ed  of  Kynge  and  Marche  of  Certaine  bokes  com- 
pyled  by  maysler  Skellon,  n.  d.,  collated  with  the  same  work, 
ed.  Day,  n.  d.,  ed.  Lant,  n.  d.,  and  with  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skel- 
ton's  Wvrkes,  1568. 


AGAINST    THE    SCOTTES.  2l)3 

That  is  as  trew 

As  blacke  is  blew 

And  grene  is  gray. 

What  euer  they  say,  « 

Jemmy  is  (led 

And  closed  in  led, 

That  was  theyr  owne  kynge : 

Fy  on  that  wynnynge  ! 

At  Floddon  hyllys 
Our  bowys,  our  byllys, 
Slewe  all  the  floure 
Of  theyr  honoure. 
Are  not  these  Scottya 
Folys  and  sottys,  « 

Suche  boste  to  make, 
To  prate  and  crake, 
To  face,  to  brace, 
All  voyde  of  grace, 
So  prowde  of  hart, 
So  ouerthwart, 
So  out  of  frame, 
So  voyde  of  shame, 
As  it  is  enrolde, 

"Wrytten  and  tolde  «t 

Within  this  quayre? 
Who  lyst  to  repayre, 
And  therin  reed, 
Shall  fynde  indeed 
A  mad  rekenynge, 
Consyderynge  al  thynge, 


204  AGAINST    THE    SCOTTES. 

That  the  Scottis  may  synge 
Fy  on  the  wynnynge! 

Wfien  the  Scotte  lyued. 
Joly  Jemmy,  ye  scorneful  Scot, 
Is  it  come  vnto  your  lot 
A  solempne  sumner  for  to  be  ? 
It  greyth  nought  for  your  degre 
Our  kynge  of  Englande  for  to  syght, 
Your  souerayne  lord,  our  prynce  of  might: 
Ye  for  to  sende  such  a  citacion, 
It  shameth  all  your  noughty  nacion, 
In  comparyson  but  kynge  Koppynge 
Vnto  our  prince,  annoynted  kynge. 
Ye  play  Hob  Lobbyn  of  Lowdean ; 
Ye  shew  ryght  well  what  good  ye  can ; 
Ye  may  be  lorde  of  Locrian,  — 
Chryst  sence  you  with  a  frying  pan  !  — 
Of  Edingborrow  and  Saint  lonis  towne : 
Adieu,  syr  sumner,  cast  of  youre  crowne ! 

When  the  Scot  was  slayne. 
Continually  I  shall  remember 
The  mery  moneth  of  September, 
With  the  ix *  daye  of  the  same, 
For  then  began  our  myrth  and  game ; 
So  that  now  I  haue  deuysed, 
And  in  my  minde  I  haue  comprysed, 

l  »a:J  Eds.  "  xi." 


AGAINST    THE    SCOTTES.  205 

Of  the  prowde  Scot,  kynge  Jemmy, 
To  wryte  some  lyttle  tragedy, 
For  no  maner  consyderacion 
Of  any  sorowful  lamentacion, 
But  for  the  special  consolacion 
Of  all 'our  royall  Englysh  nacion. 

Melpomone,  O  Muse  tragediall, 
Vnto  your  grace  for  grace  now  I  call, 
To  guyde  my  pen  and  my  pen  to  enbybe! 
Illumyn  me,  your  poete  and  your  scrybe,  • 

That  with  myxture  of  aloes  and  bytter  gall 
I  may  compounde  confectures  for  a  cordiall, 
To  angre  the  Scottes  and  Irysh  keteringes  withall, 
That  late  were  discomfect  with  battayle  marcyall. 

Thalia,  my  Muse,  for  you  also  call  I, 
To  touche  them  with  tauntes  of  your  armony, 
A  medley  to  make  of  myrth  with  sadnes, 
The  hartes  of  England  to  comfort  with  gladnes : 
And  now  to  begyn  I  wyll  me  adres, 
To  you  rehersynge  the  somme  of  my  proces.       » 

Kynge  Jamy,  Jemmy,  Jocky  my  jo, 
Ye  summond  our  kynge,  —  why  dyd  ye  so  ? 
To  you  nothing  it  dyd  accorde 
To  summon  our  kynge,  your  soueraygne  lord. 
A  kyng,  a  sumner !  it  was  great  wonder : 
Know  ye  not  suger  and  salt  asonder  ? 
Your  sumner  to  saucy,  to  malapert, 
Your  harrold  in  armes  not  yet  halfe  experte. 
Ye  thought  ye  dyd  yet  valyauntly, 
Not  worth  thre  skyppes  of  a  pye :  no 


206  AGAINST    THE    SCOTTES. 

Syr  skyrgalyard,  ye  were  so  skyt, 
Your  wyll  than  ran  before  your  wyt. 

Your  lege  ye  layd  and  your  aly, 
Your  frantick  fable  not  worth  a  fly, 
Frenche  kynge,  or  one  or  other ; 
Regarded  ye  should  your  lord,  your  brother. 
Trowid  ye,  Syr  Jemy,  his  nobul  grace 
From  you,  Syr  Scot,  would  turne  his  face? 
With,  Gup,  Syr  Scot  of  Galawey ! 
Now  is  your  pryde  fall  to  decay. 
Male  vryd  was  your  fals  entent 
For  to  offende  your  presydent, 
Your  souerayne  lord  most  reuerent, 
Your  lord,  your  brother,  and  your  regent. 

In  him  is  fygured  Melchisedec, 
And  ye  were  disloyall  Amalec. 
He  is  our  noble  Scipione, 
Annoynted  kynge ;  and  ye  were  none, 
Thoughe  ye  vntruly  your  father  haue  slayne. 
His  tytle  is  true  in  Fraunce  to  raygne  ; 
And  ye,  proud  Scot,  Dunde,  Dunbar, 
Pardy,  ye  were  his  homager, 
And  suter  to  his  parliament : 
For  your  vntruth  now  ar  ye  shent. 
Ye  bare  yourselfe  somwhat  to  bold, 
Therfore  ye  lost  your  copyehold  ; 
Ye  were  bonde  tenent  to  his  estate ; 
Lost  is  your  game,  ye  are  checkmate. 

Vnto  the  castell  of  Norram, 
I  vnderstande,  to  sone  ye  came. 


AGAINST    THE    SCOTTES.  207 

At  Branxston  more  and  Flodden  hylles, 

Our  Englysh  bowes,  our  Englysh  by  lies, 

Agaynst  you  gaue  so  sharpe  a  shower, 

That  of  Scotland  ye  lost  the  flower. 

The  Whyte  Lyon,  there  rampaunt  of  moode, 

He  ragyd  and  rent  out  your  hart  bloode; 

He  the  Whyte,  and  ye  the  Red, 

The  Whyte  there  slew  the  Red  starke  ded. 

Thus  for  your  guerdon  quyt  ar  ye, 

Thanked  be  God  in  Trinite,  no 

And  swete  Sainct  George,  our  ladies  knyght ! 

Your  eye  is  out ;  adew,  good  nyght ! 

Ye  were  starke  mad  to  make  a  fray, 
His  grace  beyng  out  of  the  way  : 
But,  by  the  power  and  might  of  God, 
For  your  owrie  tayle  ye  made  a  rod. 
Ye  wanted  wit,  syr,  at  a  worde  ; 
Ye  lost  your  spurres,  ye  lost  your  sworde. 
Ye  myght  haue  buskyd  you  to  Huntley  bankys ; 
Your  pryde  was  peuysh  to  play  such  prankys  :  «o 
Your  pouerte  coude  not  attayne 
With  our  kynge  royal  war  to  mayntayne. 

Of  the  kyng  of  Nauerne  ye  might  take  heed, 
Vngraciously  how  he  doth  speed : 
In  double  delynge  so  he  did  dreme, 
That  he  is  kynge  without  a  reme ; 
And,  for  example  ye  would  none  take, 
Experlens  hath  brought  you  in  suche  a  brake. 
Your  welth,  your  ioy,  your  sport,  your  play, 
Your  bragynge  bost,  your  royal  aray,  »• 


208  AGAINST    THE    SCOT1ES. 

Your  beard  so  brym  as  bore  at  bay, 

Your  Seuen  Systers,  that  gun  so  gay, 

All  haue  ye  lost  and  cast  away. 

Thus   fortune   hath   tourned   you,   I   dare  well 

saye, 

Now  from  a  kynge  to  a  clot  of  clay : 
Out  of  your  robes  ye  were  shaked, 
And  wretchedly  ye  lay  starke  naked. 
For  lacke  of  grace  hard  was  your  hap: 
The  Popes  curse  gaue  you  that  clap. 

Of  the  out  yles  the  roughe  foted  Scottes,         n» 
We  haue  well  eased  them  of  the  bottes : 
The  rude  ranke  Scottes,  lyke  dronken  dranes, 
At  Englysh  bowes  haue  fetched  theyr  banes. 
It  is  not  fytting 1  in  tower  and  towne 
A  sumner  to  were  a  kynges  crowne : 
Fortune  on  you  therfore  did  frowne ; 
Ye  were  to  hye,  ye  are  cast  downe. 
Syr  sumner,  now  where  is  your  crowne? 
Cast  of  your  crowne,  cast  vp  your  crowne  ! 
Syr  sumner,  now  ye  haue  lost  your  crowne.       i» 
Quod  Skelton  laureate,  oratoure  to  the 
Kynges  most  royall  estate. 

Scotia,  redacta  in  formam  provincia:, 
Regis  parebit  nutibus  Anglice  : 
Alioquin,  per  deserlum  Sin,  super  cherubim, 
Cheriibin,  seraphim,  seraphinque,  ergo,  fyc. 

ifytling]  Other  eds.  "  sytting  "  and  "  sitting,"  which,  per- 
haps, Skeltou  wrote,  as  he  elsewhere  uses  the  word. 


AGAINST    THE    SCOTTES.  209 


VNTO    DIUERS    PEOPLE    THAT    RESIOBD   THIS    RYMYHGB 
AGAYNST  THE  SCOT  JES4BIY. 

I  AM  now  constrained, 

With  wordes  nothynge  fayned, 

This  inuectiue  to  make, 

For  some  peoples  sake 

That  lyst  for  to  iangyll 

And  waywardly  to  wrangyll 

Agaynst  this  my  makynge, 

Their  males  therat  shakynge, 

At  it  reprehending, 

And  venemously  stingynge,  i 

Rebukynge  and  remordyng, 

And  nothing  according. 

Cause  haue  they  none  other, 
But  for  that  he  was  brother, 
Brother  vnnatural 
Vnto  our  kynge  royall, 
Against  whom  he  dyd  fighte 
Falsly  agaynst  all  ryght, 
Lyke  that  vntrue  rebell 
Fals  Kayn  agaynst  Abell.  i 

Who  so  theraf  pyketh  mood, 
The  tokens  are  not  good 
To  be  true  Englysh  blood ; 
For,  yf  they  vnderstood 
His  traytourly  dispyght, 
He  was  a  recrayed  knyght, 
VOL.  i.  14 


210  AGAINST   THE    SCOTTES. 

A  subtyll  sysmatyke, 
Ryght  nere  an  heretyke, 
Of  grace  out  of  the  state, 
And  died  excomunycate. 

And  for  he  was  a  kynge, 
The  more  shamefull  rekenynge 
Of  hym  should  men  report, 
In  ernest  and  in  sport. 
He  skantly  loueth  our  kynge, 
That  grudgeth  at  this  thing  : 
That  cast  such  ouerthwartes 
Percase  haue  hollow  hartes. 

Si  veritatem  dico,  quare  non  creditis  mihit 


CHORUS    DE    DIS    CONTRA    SCOTTOS.      211 


CHORUS  DE  DIS  CONTRA  SCOTTOS  CUM  OMNI  PROCESSIONALI 

FESTIVITATE   SOLEMNISAVIT  HOC   EPITOMA  XXH 

DIE   SEPTEMBRIS,   &C. 

Salve,  festa  dies,  toto  resonabilis  cevo, 

Qua  Scottus  Jacobus,  obrutus  ense,  cadit. 
Barbara  Scottorum  gens,  perfida,  plena  malorum, 

Vincitur  ad  Norram,  vertitur  inque  fugam. 
Vasta  palus,  sed  campestris,  (borie  memoratur 

Branxton  more),  Scottis  terra  perosa  fuit. 
Scottica  castra  fremunt  Floddun  sub  montibus 

altis, 

Qua  valide  invadens  dissipat  Angla  manus. 
Millia  Scottorum  trusit  gens  Anglica  passim  ; 

Luxuriat  tepido  sanguine  pinguis  humus :       10 
Pars  animas  miseri  miseras  misere  sub  umbras, 

Pars  ruit  in  foveas,  pars  subiil  latebras. 
Jam  quid  agit  Jacobus,  damnorum  germine  cretus  ? 

Perjidus  ut  Nemroth,  lapsus  ad  ima  ruit. 
Die  modo,  Scottorum  dudum  male  sane  malorum 

Rector,  nunc  regeris,  mortuus,  ecce,  jaces  ! 
Sic  Leo  te  rapidus,  Leo  Gandidus,  inclytus  ursit, 

Quo  Leo  tu  Rubeus  ultima  fata  luis. 
Anglia,    due    choreas;    resonent    tua    tympana, 

psallas  ;  * 

Da  laudes  Domino,  da  pia  vota  Deo.  » 

ffcec  laureatus  Skeltonis,  regius  orator. 

1  tympana,  psaflas]  Qy.  "  tympana  psalmis?  " 


212        CHORUS    DE    DIS    CONTRA    GALLOS. 


CHORUS   DE  DIS,  &C.  SUPER  TRIUMPHAL!  VICTORIA   CONTRA 

GALLOS,   &C.    CANTAVIT   SOLEMNITER  HOC   ELOGITJM  J» 

PROFESTO  DIVI  JOHANJilS  AD   DECOLLATIONEM. 

Salve,  festa  dies,  toto  memorabilis  <EVO, 

Qua  rex  Henricus  GaUica  bella  prem.it. 
Henricus  rutilans  Octavus  noster  in  armis 

Tirwinnce  gentis  mcenia  stravit  humi. 
Sceptriger  Anglorum  bello  validissimus  Hector, 

Francorum  gentis  colla  superba  terit. 
Dux  armis  nuper  Celebris,  modo  dux  inermis, 

De  Longville  modo  die  quo  tua  pompa  ruit  ? 
De  Clermount  clarus  dudum  die,  Galle  superbe, 

Unde  superbus  eris  ?  carcere  nonne  gemis  ?      "> 
Discite  Francorum  gens  ccetera  capta,  Britannum 

Noscite  magnanimum,  subdite  vosque  sibi. 
Gloria  Cappadocis,  divce  milesque  Maries, 

Ittius  hie  sub  ope  Gallica  regna  reget. 
Hoc  insigne  bonum,  divino  numine  gestum, 

Anglica  gens  referat  semper,  ovansque  canat. 
Per  Skeltonida  laureatum,  oratorem  regium. 


CAUDATOS    ANGLOS,    &C.  213 


V1LITISSIMUS  a   SCOTUS    DUNDAS  ALLEGAT  CAUDA8    CONTRA 
AXGLIGEUAS. 

Caudatos  Anglos,  spurcissime  Scote,  quid  effers  ? 
Effrons  es,  quoque  sons,  mendax,  tua  spurcaque 
bucca  est. 

Anylicus  a  tergo 
caudam  gerit ; 
est  canis  ergo. 
Anglice  caudate, 
cape  caudam 
ne  cadat  a  te. 
Ex  causa  caudte 
manet  Anglica 
gens  sine  laude. 

Diffamas  patriam,  qua  non 

est  melior  usquam. 
Cum  cauda  plaudis  dum 

possis,  ad  ostia  pultas 
Mendicans  ;  mendicus  em, 

mendaxque  Ulinguis, 

1  ViKlissimus]  So,  perhaps,  Skelton  wrote ;  but  qy.  "  Vilis- 
simus?  " — This  poem  from  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Worket, 
1668. 


214  CAUDATOS  ANGLOS,    &C. 

Scabidus,  horrililis,  quern 
vermes  sexquc  pedales 

Corrodunt  misere  ;  miseris 
genus  est  maledictum. 

Skeltou,  nobilis  poeta, 

Gup,  Scot, 
Ye  blot: 
Laudate 
Caudate, 
Set  in  better 
Thy  pentameter. 
This  Dundas, 
This  Scottishe  as, 
He  rymes  and  railes 
That  Englishmen  haue  tailes. 

Skeltonus  laureatus, 
Anglicus  natus, 
Provocat  Musas 
Contra  Dundas 
Spurcissiinum  Scotum, 
Undique  notum, 
Justice  fotum, 
Vapide  potum. 
Skelton  laureat 
After  this  rate 
Def'endeth  with  his  pen 
All  Englysh  men 
Agayn  Dundas, 
That  Scottishe  asse. 


CAUDATOS   ANGLOS,   &C.  215 

Shake  thy  tayle,  Scot,  lyke  a  cur, 

For  thou  beggest  at  euery  inannes  dur : 

Tut,  Scot,  I  sey, 

Go  shake  thy  1  dog,  hey  ! 

Dundas  of  Galaway 

With  thy  versyfyeng  rayles  so 

How  they  haue  tayles. 

By  Jesu  Christ, 

Fals  Scot,  thou  lyest : 

But  behynd  in  our  hose 

We  bere  there  a  rose 

For  thy  Scottyshe  nose, 

A  spectacle  case 

To  couer  thy  face, 

With  tray  deux  ase. 

A  tolman  to  blot,  <• 

A  rough  foted  Scot ! 

Dundas,  sir  knaue, 

Why  doste  thow  depraue 

This  royall  reame, 

Whose  radiant  beame 

And  relucent  light 

Thou  hast  in  despite, 

Thou  donghyll  knyght  ? 

But  thou  lakest  might, 

Dundas,  dronken  and  drowsy,  * 

Skabed,  scuruy,  and  lowsy, 

Of  vnhappy  generacion 

And  most  vngracious  nacion. 

1  %]  Qy-  "  tW  ?  "  but  see  notes. 


216  CAUDATOS    ANGLOS,   &C. 

Dundas, 

That  dronke  asse, 
That  ratis  and  rankis, 
That  prates  and  prankes 
On  Huntley  bankes, 
Take  this  our  thankes  ; 
Dunde,  Dunbar, 
Walke,  Scot, 
Walke,  sot, 
Rayle  not  to  far. 


ELEGIA    IN    COM1TISSAM    DE    DERBY.       217 


ELEGIA  IN  SERENISSIM^E  rRINCIFIS  ET  DOMINIE,  DOMIN.B 
MARGARETS  NUPER  COMITISS&  DE  DERBY,  STRENUISSIMI 
REGIS  IIEXRICI  SEFTIMI  MATRIS,  FUNEBRE  MIMSTERIUM, 
PER  SKELTONIDA  LAUREATUM,  ORATOREM  REGIUM,  XVI. 
DIE  MENSIS  AUGUSTI,  ANNO  SALUTIS  MDXVI.  * 

Aspirate  meis  elegis,  pia  turma  sororum, 

Et  Margaretam  collacrymate  piam. 
ffac  sub  mole  latet  regis  cehberrima  mater 

Henrici  magni,  quern  locus  iste  fovet ; 
Quern  locus  iste  sacer  celebri  celebrat  polyandro, 

lllius  en  genitrix  hac  tumulatur  kumo  ! 
Cui  cedat  Tanaquil  (Titus  hanc  super  astra  re- 
portet), 

Cedat  Penelope,  earns  Ulixis  amor : 
Huic  Abigail,  velut  Hester,  erat  pietate  secunda: 

En  tres  jam  proceres  nobilitate  pares  !  10 

Pro  domina,  precor,  implora,  pro  principe  tanta 

Flecte  Deum  precibus,  qui  legis  hos  apices. 
Plura  referre  piget,  calamus  torpore  rigescit, 

Dormit  Meccenas,  negligitur  probttas  ; 
Necjuvat,  aut  modicum  prodest,  mine  ultima  versu 

Fata  recensere  (mortua  mors  reor  est). 

*  From  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Workes,  1568,  collated 
with  the  piece  as  given  in  Reges,  RegiiUB,  Nobiles,  tt  alii  in 
Ecdesia  CuUegiata  B.  Petri  Weslmmasterii  sepulti,  &c.,  1603, 
4to. 


218      ELEGIA    IN    COMITISSABI    DE    DERBY. 

Quceris  quid  decus  est  ?    decus  est  modo  dicier 
hircus  ; 

Cedit  honos  hirco,  cedit  honorque  capro. 
Falleris  ipse  Charon  ;  ilenim  surrexit  Abyron, 

Et  Stygios  remos  despicit  ille  tuos.  20 

Vivitur  ex  voto :  mentis  pracordia  tangunt 

Nalla  sepulcra  ducum,  nee  monumenta  patrum; 
Non  regum,  non  ulla  hominum  labentia  fato 

Tempora,  nee  totiens  mortua  turba  ruens. 
Hinc  statuo  eerie  periturce  parcere  chartce, 

Ceu  Juvcnalls  avet  eximius  satirus. 

Distickon  execrationis  in  phagolcedoros. 

Qui  lacerat,  violatve  rapit  prcesens  epitoma, 
Hunc  laceretque  voret  Cerberus  absque  moral 

Galon,  agaton,  cum  areta.  Re.  in  pa. 
ffanc  tccum  statuas  dominam,  precort  0  sator  orbis, 
Quo  regnas  rutilans  rex  sine  fine  manens  ! 


CALLIOPE.  219 


WHY  were  ye  Calliope  embrawdred  with  letters 
ofgolde?* 

8KELTON  LAUREATE,   ORATO.    REG.   MAKETH    THIS 
AUNSWERE,   &C. 

CALLIOPE, 
As  ye  may  se, 
Regent  is  she 

Of  poetes  al, 
Whiclie  gaue  to  me 
The  high  degre 
Laureat  to  be 

Of  fame  royall ; 
Whose  name  enrolde 
With  silke  and  golde  u 

I  dare  be  bolde 

Thus  for  to  were. 
Of  her  I  holde 
And  her  housholde ; 
Though  I  waxe  olde 

And  somdele  sere, 
Yet  is  she  fayne, 


*  These  pieces  on  Calliope  from  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's 
Workes,  1568. 


CALLIOPE. 


Voyde  of  disdayn, 
Me  to  retayne 

Her  seruiture : 
With  her  certayne 
I  wyll  remayne, 
As  my  souerayne 

Moost  of  pleasure, 
Maulqre  touz  malheureux. 


LATINUJI   CARMEN  6EQUITUK. 

Cur  tibi  contexta  cst  aurea  Calliope  ? 

BESPOXSIO  EJUSDEM  VATIS. 

Candida  Cattiope,  vatum  regina,  coronans 
Pierios  lauro,  radiante  intexta  sub  auro  ! 
Hanc  ego  Pierius  tanto  dignabor  honore, 
Dum  mihi  vita  manet,  dum  spiritus  hos  regit  artus  : 
Quamquam  conficior  senio  marcescoque  sensim, 
Ipse  tamen  gestare  sua  hcec  pia  pignora  certo, 
Assensuque  suo  placidis  parebo  camenis. 
Inclyta  Calliope,  et  semper  mea  maxima  cura  est. 

Hcec  Pierius  omni  Spartano  liberior. 
CAJ^UOPE, 

Musarum  excellentissima,  speciosissima,  formosis- 
sima,  heroicis  praeest  vers 


THE    BOKE    OP    THREE    FOOLES.  221 


{A 


HE   BOKE   OF   THREE  FOOLES.* 

<m  lo 

-TOETE  LAUREATE,  GAUE  TO  SIT  LORD 


CARDYNALL. 


THE    FTRST   FOOLE. 

THE  man  that  doth  wed  a  wyfe 
For  her  goodes  and  her  rychesse, 

And  not  for  lygnage  femynatyfe, 
Procureth  doloure  and  dystresse, 
With  infynyte  payne  and  heuynesse  ; 

For  she  wyll  do  hym  moche  sorowe, 

Bothe  at  euyn  and  at  morowe. 

THE    SECONDE    FOOLE. 

The  dartes  ryght  cursed  of  Enuye 
Hath  rayned  sythe  the  worlde  began, 

Whiehe  bryngeth  man  euydently 
Into  the  bondes  of  Sathan  ; 
Wherfore  he  is  a  dyscrete  man 

That  can  eschewe  that  euyll  synne 

Where  body  and  soule  is  lost  in. 

THE   THTRD    FOOLE. 

Dyuers  by  voluptuousnes 

Of  women,  the  which  be  present, 

*  From  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Workes,  1568. 


222     THE  BOKE  OF  THREE  FOOLES. 

Be  brought  into  full  great  dystres, 
Forgettyng  vertues  excellent 
Of  God,  the  whych  is  permanent, 

And  suffreth  themselfe  to  be  bounde 

In  cordes,  as  it  were  a  hounde. 

Come  hyther,  and  take  this  boke,  and  rede 
therein  for  your  lernyng  with  clere  iyen,and  loke 
in  this  boke,  that  sheweth  you  folysh  fooles  with- 
out wyt  or  vnderstanding.  Pecunyous  fooles,  that 
bee  auaryce,  and  for  to  haue  good  tyme  and  to 
lyue  meryly,  weddeth  these  olde  wyddred  women, 
whych  hath  sackes  full  of  nobles,  claryfye  here 
your  syghte,  and  ye  shal  know  what  goodnes 
commeth  therby,  and  what  joye  and  gladnes. 
Some  there  be  that  habandoneth  themselfe  for  to 
gather  togyther  the  donge  that  yssueth  oute  of 
theyr  asses  arse,  for  to  fynde  euermore  grese :  it 
is  grete  foly  trulye;  but  yet  the  yonge  man  is 
more  folyssher  the  whiche  weddeth  an  olde  wyfe, 
for  to  haue  her  golde  and  syluer.  I  say  that  he 
is  a  great  foole  that  taketh  anne  olde  wyfe  for  her 
goodes,  and  is  much  to  blame. 

They  the  whiche  do  so  procureth  all  trybula- 
tions:  for  with  her  he  shall  neither  haue  ioy, 
recreacion,  nor  rest.  He  noryssheth  stryfes  and 
greate  debates,  thoughte,  payne,  anguyshe.  and 
melancoly :  and  yf  he  wolde  accomplysshe  the 
workes  of  maryage,  hee  may  not,  for  shee  is  so 
dubylyte,  colde,  vnpropyce,  vnnaturall,  and  vndys- 


THE  BOKE  OF  THREE  FOOLES.      223 

currente,  for  the  coldenes  that  is  in  her.  The 
husbande  of  this  olde  wyfe  hath  none  esperaunce 
to  haue  lygnage  by  her,  for  he  neuer  loued  her. 
The  man  is  a  verye  foole  to  make  his  demoraunce 
vpon  such  an  olde  wife.  Whan  he  thinketh  som- 
time  vpon  such  thynges,  he  leseth  his  naturall  wit, 
in  cursynge  hymselfe  more  then  a  m.  tymes  with 
the  golde  and  the  syluer,  and  the  cursed  hasarde 
of  Fortune.  And  when  he  seeth  his  poore  lyfe  in 
suche  dystresse,  hie  hert  is  all  oppressed  with 
melancoly  and  dolour :  but  wha.n  the  vnhappye 
man  seeth  that  it  is  force,,  andthat  hee  is  con- 
strayned  to  haue  pacience,  he  putteth  his  cure  to 
draw  to  hym  the  money  of  the  olde  wyddred 
woman  in  makyng  to  her  glade  chere.  And  whan 
hee  hath  the  money  and  the  bagge  with  nobles, 
God  knoweth  what  chere  he  maketh,  wythoute 
thynkinge  on  them  that  gathered  it.  And  when 
he  hath  spente  al,  he  is  more  vnhappyer  than  hee 
was  before.  Yf  that  the  foole  be  vnhappye,  it  is 
well  ryghte,  for  hee  hath  wedded  auaryce,  mother 
of  all  euylles :  yf  hee  had  taken  a  wyfe  that  had 
ben  fayre  and  yonge,  after  his  complection,  he  had 
not  fallen  into  so  great  an  inconuenience.  It  is 
wryten  in  auncient  bokes,  that  hee  whiche  weddeth 
a  wyfe  by  auaryce,  and  not  for  to  haue  lygnage, 
hath  no  cure  of  the  honestie  of  matrymonye,  and 
thynketh  full  euyll  on  his  conscience.  The  vnyon 
of  maryage  is  decayed ;  for,  vnder  the  coloure  of 
good  and  loyall  maryage,  is  wedded  auaryce,  as 


224     THE  BOKE  OF  THREE  FOOLES. 

we  se  euery  day  by  experience  through  the  world. 
And  one  wil  haue  a  wife,  and  that  hee  marke  his 
to  be  demaunded  in  maryage,  they  will  enquyre 
of  his  ryches  and  conninge.  And  on  the  other 
syde  he  wyl  demaunde  great  goodes  with  her,  to 
norysshe  her  with  :  for  and  her  father  and  mother 
and  frendes  haue  no  greate  ryches,  he  wyll  not  of 
her;  but  and  she  be  ryche,  hee  demaundeth none 
other  thynge.  It  is  written,  that  one  were  better 
haue  his  house  in  deserte,  whereas  no  raencion 
shoulde  be  of  hym,thenne  to  bide  with  suche  wyues, 
for  they  be  replete  with  all  cursednes.  And  the 
pore  foole  breketh  his  hearte ;  he  loseth  his  soule, 
and  corrompeth  his  body.  He  selleth  his  youth 
vnto  the  olde  wife  that  weddeth  her  for  auaryce, 
and  hath  but  noyse  and  discention,  in  vsyng  his  lyfe 
thus  in  synne.  Consydre,  you  fooles,  what  seruy- 
tude  ye  put  your  self  in,  when  ye  wedde  such 
wyues.  I  pray  you  be  chast,  if  that  ye  wyll  lyue 
without  vnhap.  My  frends,  whiche  be  not  in  that 
bande,  put  you  not  therin,  and  yee  shalbe  well 
happy.  Notwithstanding,  I  defende  you  not  to 
mary,  but  I  exhorte  you  to  take  a  wyfe  that  ye 
may  haue  progeny  by,  and  solace  bodely  and 
gostly,  and  thereby  to  wyn  the  ioyes  of  Paradyse. 


OF  ENUYE,  THE    SECONDS   FOOLE. 

Approche,  you  folyshe  enuyous,  the  which  can 
say  no  good  by  them  that  ye  hate,  come  and  se 
in  this  booke  youre  peruerse  and  euyll  condycions. 


THE  BOKE  OF  THREE  FOOLES.     225 

O  Enuy,  that  deuoureth  Ihe  condycions  of  men, 
and  dyssypers  of  honour  !  Thou  makest  to  haue 
rauisshynge  heartes  farayshed ;  thou  brennest  tlie 
desyres,  and  sleeth  the  soule  in  the  ende ;  thou 
engcndrest  the  darte  enuyronned  with  mischefe, 
that  whiche  traueyleth  diuers  folkes.  Cursed 
foole,  howe  haste  thou  thy  heart  so  replete  with 
cruelte?  for,  if  I  haue  temporall  goodes,  thou 
wilte  haue  enuye  therat ;  or,  if  that  I  can  vvorke 
well,  and  that  I  apply  mee  vnto  dyuers  thynges 
the  whiche  be  honest,  or  if  that  I  haue  castels, 
landes,  and  tenementes,  or  if  that  I  am  exalted 
vnto  honoure  by  my  science,  or  won  it  by  my 
hardynes  truely  and  iustlye,  or  if  that  I  am  be- 
loued  of  dyuers  persons  whiche  reclaymeth  mee 
good  and  vertuous  and  of  a  noble  courage,  thou 
wylt  vilepende  me  with  thy  wordes :  thou  wottest 
neuer  in  what  maner  thou  mayst  adnychell  mine 
honour.  Thy  malicious  hert  is  hurt  with  a  mor- 
tall  wounde,  in  such  wise  that  thou  haste  no  ioye 
nor  solace  in  this  world,  for  the  darte  of  Enuye 
perceth  thy  herte  lyke  a  spere.  Thou  hast  wylde 
lycoure,  the  whiche  maketh  all  thy  stomacke  to 
be  on  a  flambe.  There  is  no  medicyne  that  maye 
hele  thy  mortall  wounde.  I,  beynge  in  a  place 
where  as  myne  honoure  was  magnyfyed,  thoughte 
for  to  haue  taken  alyaunce  with  an  odyfferaunt 
floure,  but  all  sodaynely  I  was  smyten  with  a 
darte  of  Enuye  behinde  my  backe,  wherthronghe 
all  tho  that  were  on  my  partye  turned  theyr 
VOL.  i.  15 


226     THE  BOKE  OF  THREE  FOOLES. 

backes  vpon  me,  for  to  agree  to  one  of  Venus 
dissolatc  seruauntes,  procedynge  frome  a  hearte 
enuenymed  with  enuye.  Wherfore  I  shall  specy- 
fye  vnto  you  the  condycyons  of  the  enuyous. 
Who  that  holdeth  hyin  of  the  subgectes  of  Enuye, 
she  constytueth  to  deuoure  and  byte  euery  bodye  ; 
gyuynge  vnhappes  and '  myseryes  vnto  her  ser- 
uauntes. Suche  folkes  doth  the  innocente  a  thou- 
sande  wronges.  They  be  replenysshed  with  so 
many  treasons,  that  they  can  not  slepe  in  theyr 
beddes ;  they  haue  no  swete  cantycles  nor  songes. 
They  haue  theyr  tonges  honyed  with  swete  words 
vnder  the  coloure  of  loue  ;  they  be  lene,  and  in- 
fecte  of  rygoure  these  enuyous,  more  bytterer 
thenne  the  gall  of  the  fyshe  glauca,  wyth  theyr 
eyen  beholdinge  a  trauers,  of  storaackes  chaufed 
syntillously,  and  without  their  mouthes,  as  the 
vyne  that  is  newe  cut,  they  be  enuyroned  with 
rage  and  greate  anguysshe,  beholdynge  euermore 
to  destroy  some  body.  Conceyue  the  history  of 
Joseph  in  your  myndes,  the  which  had  vii. 
brethren,  that  were  enuyous  against  him  which 
was  the  yongeste,  and  solde  hym  vnto  the  mar- 
chauntes  of  Egypte  bj,enuy,  and  betrayed  him  ; 
the  which  were  delybered  of  a  longe  time  to  haue 
destroyed  him.  These  enuious  neuer  laughe  but 
whan  some  good  man  hath  domage  vpon  the  see 
or  lande;  or  at  the  disfortune  of  some  body,  he 
drynketh  his  bloud  as  milke.  Notwithstandinge 
his  heart  is  euer  enbraced  with  enuy,  and  as  longe 


THE  BOKE  OF  THREE  FOOLES.     227 

as  he  lyueth  it  shall  gnawe  his  hert.  Hee  re- 
sembleth  vnto  Ethna  whiche  brenneth  alwayes. 
As  of  Romulus,  and  Remus  his  brother,  the 
whiche  Romulus  edefyed  first  Rome,  and  gaue  it 
to  name  Rome,  after  his  owne  name.  Neuertheles 
they  were  pastours,  for  they  establyshed  lawes  in 
the  citie.  And  Romulus  punished  euerye  body 
egally.  He  dyd  instytute  lyrnittes  or  markes 
aboute  the  citie,  and  ordeyned  that  he  that  passed 
the  lymyttes  shuld  be  put  to  death.  His  brother 
passed  them,  wherfore  he  was  put  vnto  death  in- 
continente  in  the  same  place.  Wee  rede  also 
how  Cayme  slewe  his  owne  brother  by  enuye. 
Haue  we  not  ensample  semblablye  of  Atreus,  of 
whom  his  brother  occupyed  the  parke,  howe  well 
that  they  were  in  the  realme  stronge  and  puys- 
saunte,  for  to  defende  them  ?  It  was  Thesius  that 
expulsed  his  brother  oute  of  the  realme  by  enuy, 
and  was  called  agayne  bycause  that  he  had  taken 
the  parke,  and  fynally  was  banyshed,  and  by 
enuye  and  vnder  the  colour  of  peace  he  was  sent 
for.  And  when  hee  was  commen  vuto  a  feast,  he 
made  his  two  children  for  to  be  rested,  and  made 
theim  to  drynke  their  bloude.  0  what  horroure 
was  it  to  see  his  twoo  children  dye  that  were  so 
dyscrete  !  In  lykewise  Ethiocles  by  his  brethren 
receyued  great  enormyties  by  that  cursed  Enuye. 
O  thou  prudent  man,  if  thou  wilt  be  discrete, 
good,  and  wise,  flye  from  Enuy,  and  thou  shalt 
finde  thy  selfe  sounde  of  body  and  soule ! 


228  THE    BOKE    OF    THREE    FOOLES. 


OP   THE   VOLUPTUOCSNES    COBPOKALL,   THE   THIRD 
FOOLE. 

Ryghte  heartely  I  beseche  you,  folysshe  and 
lecherous  people,  that  it  will  please  you  for  to 
come  and  make  a  litell  collacion  in  this  booke ; 
and  if  there  be  any  thinge  that  I  can  do  for  you, 
I  am  all  yours  both  body  and  goodes ;  for  truelye 
I  haue  an  ardaunte  desyre  to  doo  you  some  meri- 
torious *  dede,  bicause  that  I  haue  euer  frequented 
your  seruyce. 

Nowe  herken  what  I  haue  found  you,  cautellous 
women.  They  that  the  pappes  be  sene  all  naked, 
their  heyre  combed  and  trussed  in  dyuers  places 
merueylously,  be  vnreasonable  fooles,  for  they 
dresse  theim  like  voluptuous  harlottes,  that  make 
their  heyre  to  appere  at  theyr  browes,  yalowe  as 
fine  golde,  made  in  lytel  tresses  for  to  drawe 
yonge  folke  to  theyr  loue.  Some,  for  to  haue 
their  goodes,  presenteth  to  theim  their  beddes  for 
to  take  their  carnall  desires  ;  and  after  that  they 
haue  taken  all  their  disportes,  they  pill  theim  as 
an  onion.  The  other,  for  to  haue  their  plesures 
mondayne,  cheseth  theim  that  she  loueth  best, 
and  maketh  sygnyfyaunce  to  theim,  sayeng  that 
she  is  anamoured  on  theim.  Thou  art  a  verye 
idyot  so  to  abandone  thy  selfe  vnto  the  vyle  synne 
of  lecherye,  for  thou  lettest  thy  selfe  be  wrapped 

1  meritorious}  ed.  "  meditorious."     C. 


THE  BOKE  OF  THREE  FOOLES.     229 

therein,  lyke  as  a  calfe  or  a  shepe  is  bounde  in  a 
corde,  in  suche  wise  that  ye  can  not  vnbynde 
youre  selfe.  O  foole,  haue  aspecle  vnto  that 
wlriche  thou  commyttest !  for  thou  puttest  thy 
poore  soule  in  great  daunger  of  damnation  eter- 
nall ;  thou  puttest  thy  goodes,  thyne  vnderstand- 
inge,  and  thy  ioy,  vnto  dolorous  perdicion :  and 
for  all  that  yee  bee  in  your  wor[l]dly  pleasures, 
yet  it  is  mengled  with  dystres  or  with  mysery, 
greate  thoughte  or  melancoly.  I  requyre  thee, 
leue  thy  wor[l]dlye  pleasures,  that  endurc-th  no 
lenger  then  the  grasse  of  the  feelde.  Yf  you  haue 
ioye  one  only  momente,  thou  shall  haue  twayne 
of  sorow  for  it.  Wee  rede  of  Sardanapalus,  that 
for  his  lecherye  and  lybidinosite  fell  into  hell ; 
the  whiche  put  him  selfe  in  the  guise  of  a  poore 
woman :  his  men,  seinge  hym  so  obstinate  in  that 
vile  sinne,  slewe  him,  and  so  fynished  hee  his 
dayes  for  folowinge  of  his  pleasaunce  mondayne. 
The  soueraigne  Creatour  was  more  puyssante 
thenne  this  wretched  sinner.  Let  vs  not  apply 
our  selfe  therto,  sith  that  hee  punysheth  sinners 
so  asprely ;  but  with  all  our  hertes  enforce  we 
our  selfe  for  to  resist  againste  that  vyle  and  ab- 
homynable  sinne  of  lechery,  the  whiche  is  so  full 
of  enfeccion  and  bytternes,  for  it  distayneth  the 
soule  of  man.  Fie  frome  the  foolisshe  women, 
that  pylleth  the  louers  vnto  the  harde  bones,  and 
you  shal  be  beloued  of  God  and  also  of  the 
worlde. 


230  A    REPLYCACION,    &C. 


ffonorificatissimo,  *  amplissimo,  longeque  reve- 
rendissimo  in  Christo  patri,  ac  domino,  domino 
Thomte,  fyc.  tituli  sanctce  Cecilice,  sacrosanctce 
Romance  ecclesice  presbytero,  Cardinali  meritissi- 
mo,  et  apostolicce  sedis- legato,  a  latereque  legato 
super  illustri,  fyc.,  Skeltonis  latireatus,  ora.  reg., 
humillimum  dicit  obsequium  cum  omni  debita 
reverentia,  tanto  tamque  magnifico  digna  principe 
sacerdotum,  totiusque  justitice  cequabilissimo  mode- 
ratore,  necnon  prcesentis  opusculi  fautore  excel- 
lentissimo,  fyc.,  ad  cujus  auspicatissimam  contem- 
plationem,  sub  memorabili  prelo  gloriosce  immor- 
talitatis,  prcesens  pagella  felicitatur,  8fC. 


A  EEPLTCACION  AGAYNST  CERTAYNE  YOSG  SCOLERS 
ABIUBED  OF  LATE,  &C. 

Argumentum. 

Orassantes  nimium,  nimium  sterilesque  labruscas, 
Vinea  quas  Domini  Sabaot  non  sustinet  ultra 
Laxius  expandi,  nostra  est  resecare  voluntas. 

Cum  privilegio  a  rege  indulto. 

*  The  portion  of  this  piece  given  on  the  present  page  forms 
the  title-page  of  the  original  edition  by  Pynson,  n.  d. 


A    REPLTCACION,    &C.  231 

Protestacion  ahvay  canonically  prepensed,  pro- 
fessed, and  with  good  delyberacion  made,  that 
this  lytell  pamphilet,  called  the  Replicacion  of 
Skelton  laureate,  ora.  reg.,  remordyng  dyuers 
recrayed  and  moche  vnresonable  errours  of  cer- 
tayne  sophystycate  scolers  and  rechelesse  yonge 
heretykes  lately  abiured,  &c.  shall  euermore  be, 
with  all  obsequious  redynesse,  humbly  submytted 
vnto  the  ryght  discrete  reformacyon  of  the  reue- 
rende  prelates  and  moche  noble  doctours  of  our 
mother  holy  Churche,  &c. 

Ad  almam  Universitatem  Cantabrigensem,  tyc. 
Eulogium   consolationis. 

Alma  parens  0  Cantabrigensis,  ske/u^T* 

Cur  lacrymaris  ?     Esto.  tui  sint          laureate  pri- 

7-»  1    •     ^T      T  7  n'Um       mam' 

Uegeneres  hijiholi,  sea  n^m   erudj- 

Non  ob  inertes,  0  pia  mater.  tissime  pro- 

7-        .7  7  pinavit. 

Insciolos  vet  decolor  esto. 
Progenies  non  nobilis  omnis, 
Quam  tuaforsan  mamma  fovebat. 
Tu  tamen  esto  Palladis  almce 
Gloria  pollens  plena  Minervce, 
Dum  radiabunt  astra  polorum : 
Jamque  valeto,  meque  foveto> 
Namque  tibi  quondam  earns  alumnus  eram. 


232  A   REPLYCACION,   &C. 


»ebhb,flaii1va  ^ow  yon°  sc°lers  "owe  a  dayes  en- 
•ihiiaus  ab  bolned  with  the  flyblowen  blast  of  the 
iutumescere  moche  vayne  glorious  pipplyng  wynde, 
archas  con-  whan  they  haue  delectably  lycked  a 
{hododxa^°r"  b'te11  of  tbe  b'corous  electuary  of  lusty 
Eruditioiiis  lei'nyng,  in  the  moche  studious  scole- 
?e*°erdaUauda-  u»us  °^  scrupulous  Philology,  countyng 
cique  juveu-  them  selfe  clerkes  exellently  enformed 
moderatioius  and  transcendingly  sped  in  moclie  high 

ffenura    pos-  f 

tuiat.    Alio-  connyng,  and  whan  they  haue  ones  su- 

quin  scientia  ...      .  . 

effrenaia  in-  perClllUsly  Caught 
flataque  spu- 

maelationic,  quod  dulce  venenumest,  suhiiliteriiitoxicnt  interimitque 
incautum  possessorem  suum,  &c.  h.  il.  Nou  sit  igilur  lihi,  Philologia, 
ralione  iniuinperatoe  loquaciiaiis  SUEE,  ino.'dinaia:  dicufiluiis,  incugi- 
tatffi  procacitatis,  in  singulium  et  scrupulum  cortlis  tui,  &c.  h.  iL 
Eloquentiam  sine  sapienliu  prodeEse  nunquam,  nbesst  plerumque,  sa- 
tis coiislal  evidenter  i.  veierum  rhetoris. 


rethorike, 
«te,  logicari  A  lesse  lumpe  of  losyke. 

meuculose 

i  A  pece  or  a  patch  e  of  philosophy, 
'  Than  forthwith  by  and  by 


argulf  "m     They  tumble  so  in  theology, 

Drowned  in  dregges  of  diuinite, 

That  the7  iuge  them  selfe  able  t0  be 

Slmce^n-   Doctours  of  the  chayre  in  the  Uyntre 

aiienalToT.'"8  At  the  Tfare  Cranes» 

em,  fascuien-  To  magnifye  their  names  :  "i 

tarn,    uniiir- 

caiam,«emu-  But  madly  it  frames, 

hasc3™'  Vos  For  all  that  they  preche  and  teche 

Is  farther  than  their  wytte  wyll  reche. 

Thus  by  demeryttes  of  their  abusyon, 


A    KEPLYCACION,    &C.  233 

Finally  they  fall  to  carefull  confusyon,  anseres  sue. 

J  J  J  pentes    inter 

To  beare  a  fa°x>t,  or  to  be  enflamed :       canoros  oio- 

rni  i  i  res>      releKa- 

Inus    are    they    vndone   and    vtterly    mus  ad  ues 

'  J      grues      hac- 

shamed.  chaw    Bro- 

raio  initiates, 
pro     foribus 

Vinitoris,  propter  fluentu  Thamisise.     Ubi  poti  potati  cum  fasciculo 
iiiambusto  ambustum  futurum  fuscieulum  pensitate,  &c.  haec  il. 


Ergo 

Licet  non  enclitice, 
Tamen  enthymematice, 
Notandum  imprimis^ 
Ut  ne  quid  nimis. 
Tantum  pro  primo. 

Ouer  this,  for  a  more  ample  processe 
to   be  farther  delated  and   contynued, 
and  of  euery  true  christenman  lauda- 
bly to  be  enployed,  iustifyed,  and  con- 
stantly mainteyned ;    as  touchyng  the 
tetrycall  theologisacion  of  these  demy 
diuines,  and  Stoicall  studiantes,  and  fris-     Stoicam 
caioly  yonkerkyns,  moche  better  bayned  non  primus 
than  brayned,  basked  and  baththed  in     juveiies 
their  wylde  burblyng  and  boyling  blode,  ttToptT" 
feruently  reboyled  with  the  infatuate  SlS™ d* 
flames  of  their  rechelesse  youthe  and  ^riaifre  fa" 
wytlesse  wontonnesse,  enbrasedand  en-  quei"er  fieri 

*  f  sclent  sediti- 

terlased  with  a  moche  fantasticall  frenesy  osi-     »»c 
of  their  insensate  sensualyte,  surmysed 


234  A    REPLYCACION,    &C. 

iiksnlLatii?e  vnsure^7  'n  their  perihermeniall  princi- 
unerp:emtio,  pies,  to  prate  and  to  preche  proudly  and 
leudly,  and  loudly  to  lye  ;  and  yet  they 
fior^AU.^  were  but  febly  enformed  m  maister  Por- 
GoVdhuuTnf  P*"™5  probleme?,  and  haue  waded  but 
perato.is  weakly  in  his  thre  maner  of  clerklv 

CC.XLIX.  &C.  *  .  . 

Aiiaiytica,  workes,  analeticall,  topicall,   and  logy- 

libri  priorum        ..      ,         ,     .       .  «>    i  /•   n 

et  posierio-  call  :  howbeit  they  were  puffed  so  full 
"ropicaj  i.  of  vaynglorious  pompe  and  surcudant 
elacyon,  that  popholy  and  peuysshe  pre- 
ere,  sumpc»<>n  prouoked  them  to  publysshe 


"'OUS^J»  ho  we  it  was  idolatry  to  offre  to 
Hi-  ymages  of  our  blessed  lady,  or  to  pray 

eronymum  ,  .      . 

ad  Jovenia-  and   go   on    pylgnmages,   or  to  make 

num,  tc,  .  , 

idoiatria     ODlacions  to  any  ymages  or  sayntes  in 
poaitaexkio-  churches  or  els  where. 

lo  (quod  est 

simulacrum)       Agaynst  whiche  erronyous  errours, 
(qnodestcui-  odyous,  orgulyous,  and  fly  bio  wen 

nos,  tc.  opynions,  &c., 

De    latria, 
hyperdulia, 

dulia,  quid  sanctitas  aposlolica  cum  Constantino  magno  Constanli- 
nopoii  ordinavit  in  concilio  Laireu^i,  inanifeste  reperies  et  infra. 


To  the  honour  of  our  blessed  lady, 
And  her  most  blessed  baby, 
I  purpose  for  to  reply  a» 

v  Co^enu<^  Agaynst  this  horryble  heresy 
lici    injuria-  Of  these  yong  heretikes,   that  stynke 

tores  sanctae 

etaposioiicse  vnbrent, 


A    REPLYCACIOX,    &C.  235 

Whom  I  nowe  sommon  and  content, 

That  leudly  haue  their  tyme  spent, 

In  their  study  abhomynable, 

Our  glorious  lady  to  disable, 

And  heynously  on  her  to  bable  ntis   babere 

With  langage  detestable  ;  diam,  cujns 

ITT-.. i  u        j  matrem  iufi- 

\\lth  your  lyppes  polluted  ciamim  ease 

Agaynst  her  grace  disputed, 
Whiche  is  the  most  clere  christaU 
Of  all  pure  clen'nesse  virgynall, 
That  our  Sauyour  bare,  miWic»r*r 

Whiche  vs  redemed  from  care.  diaB» **• 

I  save,  thou  madde  Marche  hare,  Conrenio 

*  toe,  O-  Ari- 

I  wondre  howe  ye  dare  ani,  jniiano 

^  ,  apoetata  ex- 

Open  your  langlyng  lawes,  ec 

To  preche  in  any  clawes, 
Lyke  pratynge  poppyng  dawes, 
Agaynst  her  excellence,  .« 

Agaynst  her  reuerence, 
Agaynst  her  preemynence, 
Agaynst  her  magnifycence, 
That  neuer  dyde  offence. 
Ye  heretykes  recrayed, 
Wotte  ye  what  ye  sayed  ISimi,"Po" 

Of  Mai-y.  mother  and  mayed? 
With  baudrie  at  her  ye  brayed ; 
With  baudy  wordes  vnmete  ti»ic- 

Your  tonges  were  to  flete  ;  » 

Your  sermon  was  nut  swete ; 
Ye  were  nothyng  discrete  ; 


236  A   REPLYCACION,    &C. 

Ye  were  in  a  dronken  hete. 
voc°"venk,  Lyke  heretykes  cojnfettred, 
sad'  liiera-  Ye  count  vourselfe  wele  lettred  : 

rum  proles-  * 

•ores,  &c.      Your  lernyng  is  starke  nought, 

For  shamefully  ye  haue  wrought, 
And  to  shame  your  selfe  haue  brought. 
Convenio        Bycause  ye  her  mysnamed, 

saeij  o  Ju-  And  wolde  haue  her  defamed,  *> 

namei,   o     Your  madnesse  she  attamed; 

&c?n*a         For  ye  were  worldly  shamed, 
At  Poules  crosse  openly, 
All  men  can  testifye  ; 
Nonvacat,  There,  lyke  a  sorte  of  sottes, 

O    contemp-  __ 

tores   Mari   Ye  were  fayne  to  beare  fagottes  ; 
At  the  feest  of  her  concepcion 


fact  is 


iligna 

rece 

in  del 

virgi 


Ye  suffred  suche  correction. 
Sive  per  tequivocum, 


S*ve  Per 

haec  il.  gftve  gfo^ 

Ye  are  brought  to,  Lo,  lo,  lo  ! 
Convenio    Se  where  the  heretykes  go, 
lesa'ni,  vani,  Wytlesse  wandring  to  and  fro  ! 
chrisiiaai.     With,  Te  he,  ta  ha,  bo  ho,  bo  ho  ! 

And  suche  wondringes  many  mo. 

Helas,  ye  wreches,  ye  may  be  wo  ! 

Ye  may  syng  wele  away, 

And  curse  bothe  nyght  and  day, 

Whan  ye  were  bredde  and  borne, 
Convemo    And  whan  ye  were  preestes  shorne, 

Thus  to  be  laughed  to  skorne, 


A    REPLTCACION,    &C.  237 

Thus  tattred  and  thus  torne, 

Thorowe  your  owne  foly, 

To  be  blowen  with  the  flye  ^ 

Of  horryble  heresy. 

Fayne  ye  were  to  reny, 

And  mercy  for  to  crye, 

Or  be  brende  by  and  by, 

Oonfessyng  hovve  ye  dyde  lye  »o 

In  prechyng  shamefully. 

Your  selfe  thus  ye  discured 
As  clerkes  vnassured, 
With  ignorance  obscured : 

Ye  are  vnhappely  vred.  Convenio 

In  your  dialeticall  theriani. 

And  principles  silogisticall, 
If  ye  to  remembrance  call 
Howe  syllogisari 

Non  est  ex  particular},  100 

Neque  neqativis,  Neque 

.  non,     neque 

Recte  concludere  si  vis,  legas. 

Et  c&tera  id  genus, 

Ye  coude  nat  corde  tenus, 

Nor  answere  verbo  tenus, 

Whan  prelacy  you  opposed ; 

Your  hertes  than  were  hosed, 

Your  relacions  reposed  ;  .  Quoniam 

ignoiantibus 

And  yet  ye  supposed  auppoiitio- 

•       »  r  r  lies  ventatii 

Respondere  ad  quantum,  no  proposiiio- 

num  non  re- 

But  ye  were  confuse  tantum,  lucent,  &c. 

Surrendring  your  supposycions, 


238  A   REPLTCACION,    &C. 

For  there  ye  myst  you[r]  quosshons. 

Wolde  God,  for  your  owne  ease, 
te^gh^ia-  That  wyse  Harpocrates 

atoiouuiteSsi°    ^ad  y°ur  raoutaes  Stopped, 

LTisidisieni-  And  your  tonges  cropped, 
pio^&c.       -  Whan  ye  logyke  chopped, 


&c.  And  folysshly  there  fopped,. 

And  porisshly  forthe  popped 
Your  sysraatfcate  saweT~" 
Agaynst  Goddes  lawes, 
And  shewed  your  selfe  dawes ! 
Sum  prae-  Ye  argued  argumentes, 

terea    non- 

nuiii  hujus    As  it  were  vpon  the  elenkes, 
quibus  hie     De  rebus  apparentibus 
"aiuiiloc""   Et  non  existentibus  ; 

And  ye  wolde  appere  wyse, 
But  ye  were  folysshe  nyse: 
Yet  be  meanes  of  that  vyse 
Ye  dyde  prouoke  and  tyse, 
Oftnar  than  ones  or  twyse, 
Many  a  good  man 
And  many  a  good  woman, 
By  way  of  their  deuocion 
To  helpe  you  to  promocion, 
Whose  charite  wele  regarded 
Can  nat  be  vnrewarded. 
Convenio        I  saye  it  for  no  sedicion, 

vos;  O  H«ro-  * 

diani.  But  vnder  pacient  tuicyon, 

It  is  halfe  a  supersticyon 


A    KEPLYCACIOX,    &C. 


To  gyue  you  exhibycion 

To  inainteyne  with  your  skoles, 

And  to  proue  your  selfe  suclie  foles. 

Some  of  you  had  ten  pouride, 
Therwith  for  to  be  founde 
At  the  vnyuersyte, 
Employed  whiche  myght  haue  be 
Moche  better  other  wayes. 
But,  as  the  man  sayes, 
The  blynde  eteth  many  a  flye : 
What  may  be  ment  hereby, 
Ye  may  soone  make  construction 
With  right  lytell  instruction  ; 
For  it  is  an  auncyent  brute, 
Suche  apple  tre,  suche  frute. 
What  shulde  I  prosecute, 
Or  more  of  this  to  clatter? 
Ketourne  we  to  our  matter. 

Ye  scored  ouer  hye 
In  the  ierarchy 
Of  louenyans  heresy, 
Your  names  to  magnifye, 
Among  the  scabbed  skyes 
Of  WyclhTes  flesshe  flyes  ; 
Ye  strynged  so  Luthers  lute, 
That  ye  dawns  all  in  a  sute 
The  heritykes  ragged  ray, 
That  bringes  you  out  of  the  way 
Of  holy  churches  lay  ; 
Ye  shayle  inter  enigmata 


Obscurm 
sarcasmofi. 


Ex  fructi- 
bus    eorura 
cognoscetis 
eos,  &.c. 


Sublimius 
sequo  aucu- 
piuin  agunt, 


Convenio 
yos.OWich- 

lii'tistae. 


240  A   REPLYCACION,   &C. 

And  inter  paradigmata, 
Marked  in  your  cradels 
To  beare  fagottes  for  babyls.  • 

And  yet  some  men  "say7 
Howe  ye  are  this  day, 
And  be  nowe  as  yll, 
And  so  ye  wyll  be  styll, 
As  ye  were  before. 
What  shulde  I  recken  more  ? 
Convcnio        Men  haue  you  in  suspicion 

vos.   O   ver-  * 

bosi  sophis-  Howe  ye  haue  small  contrycion 
Of  that  ye  haue  mys wrought : 
For,  if  it  were  well  sought, 
One  of  you  there  was 
That  laughed  whan  he  dyd  pas 
With  his  fagot  in  processyon  ; 
He  counted  it  for  no  correction, 
But  with  scornefull  affection 
Toke  it  for  a  sporte, 
His  heresy  to  supporte ; 
Whereat  a  thousande  gased, 
As  people  halfe  amased, 
And  thought  in  hym  smale  grace 
His  foly  so  to  face. 

Some  iuged  in  this  case 
Your  penaunce  toke  no  place, 
Your  penaunce  was  to  lyght ; 

v  s^oTil0  ^"nt*  tnouo'lt'  if  >'e  had  right* 
boiici  dog-   Ye  shulde  take  further  payne 

matisue,  &c. 

lo  resorte  agayne 


A   KEPLYCACION,   &C.  241 

To  places  where  ye  haue  preched, 

And  your  lollardy  lernyng  teched, 

And  there  to  make  relacion 

In  open  predycacion, 

And  knowlege  your  offence 

Before  open  audyence, 

Howe  falsely  ye  had  surraysed, 

And  deuyllysshely  deuysed  aio 

The  people  to  seduce, 

And  chase  them  thorowe  the  muse 

Of  your  noughty  counsell, 

To  hunt  them  into  hell, 

With  blowyng  out  your  homes, 

Full  of  mockysshe  scornes, 

With  chatyng  and  rechatyng, 

And  your  busy  pratyng  : 

Of  the  gospell  and  the  pystels 

Ye  pyke  out  many  thystels,  '  *»    .  Sunt   Ple" 

And  bremely  with  your  bristels  sed    noi> 

,r          ...  ,  ,  alieni,    qui 

Ie  cobble  and  ye  clout  tamundem 

„.  paene    enun- 

Holy  Scripture  so  about,      -  tiam,  &c. 

That  people  are  in  great  dout 

And  feare  leest  they  be  out 

Of  all  good  Christen  order. 

Thus  all  thyng  ye  disorder 

Thorowe  out  euery  bord[e]r. 

It  had  ben  moche  better  Convcnio 

-v      i       i  11  vofl> 

Ye  had  neuer  lerned  letter,  230  doct 

For  your  ignorance  is  gretter, 
I  make  you  fast  and  sure, 
VOL.  i.  16 


242  A    REPLTCACION,    &C. 

Than  all  your  lytterature. 
Ye  are  but  lydder  logici, 
But  moche  worse  isagogici, 
For  ye  haue  enduced  a  secte 
With  heresy  all  infecte  ; 
Wherfore  ye  are  well  checte, 
And  by  holy  churche  correcte, 
And  in  maner  as  abiecte,  M 

For  euermore  suspecte, 
And  banysshed  in  effect 
From  all  honest  company, 
Bycause  ye  haue  eaten  a  flye, 
To  your  great  vyllony, 
That  neuer  more  may  dye. 
ve£°oyhy£-      Come  forthe,  ye  popeholy, 

critae,  &c.        Full  Q{.  melancoly  . 

Your  madde  ipocrisy, 

And  your  idiosy,  a 

And  your  vayne  glorie, 

Haue  made  you  eate  the  flye, 

Pufte  full  of  heresy, 

To  preche  it  idolatry, 

Who  so  dothe  magnifye 
M2riXK  That  glorious  mayde  Mary  ; 
p«r"dcapita   That  glorious  mayde  and  mother, 

'     So  was  there  neuer  another 
tici,  phrene-  Jjut  that  princesse  alone, 

To  whom  we  are  bounde  echone  '•       M 

The  ymage  of  her  grace 

To  reuerence  in  euery  place. 


A    REPLYCACION,    &C.  243 

I  saye,  ye  braynlesse  beestes,  vo?nJeML 

Why  iangle  you  suche  iestes,  ehantaai, 

In  your  diuynite 
Of  Luthers  affynite, 
To  the  people  of  lay  fee, 
Raylyng  in  your  rages 
To  worshyppe  none  ymages, 
Nor  do  pylgrymages  ?  aro 

I  saye,  ye  deuyllysshe  pages, 
Full  of  suche  dottages, 
Count  ye  your  selfe  good  clerkes, 
And  snapper  in  suche  werkes  ? 

Saynt  Gregorie  and  saynt  Ambrose,  vo^°^'e"^° 
Ye  haue  reed  them,  I  suppose,  moniaci  m*. 

ruliiuu,  &c. 

Saynt  Jerome  and  saynt  Austen, 

With  other  many  holy  men, 

Saynt  Thomas  de  Aquyno, 

With  other  doctours  many  mo,  290 

Whiche  de  latria  do  trete ; 

They  saye  howe  latria  is  an  honourgrete, 

Belongyng  to  the  Deite  : 

To  this  ye  nedes  must  agre. 

But,  I  trowe,  your  selfe  ye  ouerse 
What  longeth  to  Christes  humanyte. 
If 'ye  haue  reed  de  hyperdulia,  Nota  de 

Than  ye  knowe  what  betokeneth  dulia :  wwdnlia,  du- 
Than  shall  ye  fynde  it  fyrme  and  stable, 
And  to  our  faithe  moche  agreable,      290 
To  worshyppe  ymages  of  sayntes. 
Wherfore  make  ye  no  mo  restrayntes, 


244  A   REPLYCACION,    &C. 

quSfhoc  sii>i  ^Ut  mende  y°ur  myndes  that  are  mased; 
SI'S'  Or  els  doutlesse  7e  shalbe 


ihe    inflam-  And  be  brent  at  a  stake, 

If  further  busynesse  that  ye  make. 

m°di™  per-   Therfore  I  V7se  7OU  to  forsake 

nuanm  te  Ve"  Of  heresy  the  deuyllysshe  scoles, 

And    crye    Godmercy,    lyke    frantyke 
foles. 

Tantum  pro  secundo. 

Peroratio  ad  nuper  abjuratos  quosdam 
hypotheticos  hcereticos,  fyc. 

Audite,  viri  Ismaelitce,  non  dico  Is- 
raelites ; 

Audite,  inquam,  viri  Madianitce,  As- 
calonitce  ; 

Ammonitfe,  Gabaonitce,  audite  verba 
qua  loquar. 

Opus  evangelii  est  cibus  perfectorum  ; 
Sed  quia  non  estis  de  genere  bonorum, 
Qui  caterisatis1  categorias  cacodcemo- 
niorum, 

Ergo 

Et  reliqua  vestra  problemata,  schemata, 
Dilemmata,  sinto  anathemata  ! 
Ineluctabile  argumentum  est. 

1  caterisatis]  Qy.  "  catarrhizatis  ?  " 


A    REPLYCACION,    &C.  245 

A  confutacion  responsyue,  or  an  in-  ^ 
euytably  prepensed  answere  to  all  way- 
warde  or  frowarde  altercacyons  that  can 
or  may  be  made  or  objected  agaynst 
Skelton  laureate,  deuyser  of  this  Reply- 
cacyon,  &c. 

"Why  fall  ye  at  debate  soo 

With  SkeltQn  laureate,     ' 
Reputyng  hym  vnable 
To  gainsay  replycable 
Opinyons  detestable 
Of  heresy  execrable  ? 

Ye  saye  that  poetry  Tota  erras 

via,  si    doc- 

Maye  nat  flye  so  hye  tos  poetas 

(illis    autem 

In  theology,  non    desunt 

x,  charismata) 

JN  Or  analogy,  arguis  de  in- 

Nor  philology, 
Nor  philosophy, 
To  answere  or  reply 
Agaynst  suche  heresy. 
Wherfore  by  and  by 
Nowe  consequently 
I  call  to  this  rekenyng 
Dauyd,  that  royall  kyner,  David  rex 

m.         IT-  et  Pr°Pheta 

Whom  rlieronymus,  per   divum 

rrii         i  i  Hierony- 

Inat  UOCtOUr  gloriOUS,  mum   matri- 

Dothe  bothe  write  and  call  soo  nobilicatato- 

Poeteofpoetesall,  ?y°nPc°o~ 

And  prophete  princypall.  ^hzfu! 


246  A   REPLYCACION,    &C. 

oVi8U-          This  may  nat  be  remorded, 


?um  f°ubes  In  Ilis  P7ste11  ad 

cite  cum  ig-  Presbuterum  divinum. 

Dominion  * 

vcrecundia,  Where  worde  for  worde  ye  may 

exitiosaque 

confusioope-      Kede  what  Jerome  there  dothe  say. 

riat    facies 
yestras.  haec 

David,  inguit,  Simonides  nosier,  Pin- 
darus,  et  Alcceus,  Flaccus  quoqite,  Ca- 
tullus, atque  Serenus,  Christum  lyra 
personal,  et  in  decachordo  psalterio 
ab  inferis  excitat  resurgentem.  Hcec 
Hier. 

(\^.j^    l\  <*>"\^^'.' 
The  Englysshe. 

Kyng  Dauid  the  prophete,  of  prophetes 

principall, 

Of  poetes  chefe  poete,  saint  Jerome 

dothe  wright,  330 

Resembled   to   Symonides,  that    poete 

lyricall 
Among  the  Grekes  most  relucent  of 

tyght, 
In  that  faculte  whiche  shyned  as  Phe- 

bus  bright  ; 

Lyke  to  Pyndarus  in  glorious  poetry, 
Lyke  vnto  Alcheus,  he  dothe  hym  mag- 
nify. 


A   REPLYCACION,    &C.  247 

Flaccus  nor  Catullus  with  hym  may  nat 

compare, 
Nor  solempne   Serenus,  for  all  his 

armony 
In  metricall  muses,  his  harpyng  we  may 

spare; 
For  Dauid,  our  poete,  harped  so  me- 

loudiously 

Of  our  Sauyour  Christ  in  his  deca- 

corde  psautry,  sio 

That  at  his  resurrection  he  hai-ped  out 

of  hell 

Olde  patriarkes  and  prophetes  in  heuen 
with  him  to  dwell. 

Eeturne  we  to  our  former  processe. 
Than,  if  this  noble  kyng 
Thus  can  harpe  and  syng 
With  his  harpe  of  prophecy 
And  spyrituall  poetry, 
As  saynt  Jerome  saythe, 
To  whom  we  must  gyue  faythe, 
Warblyng  with  his  strynges 
Of  suche  theologicall  thynges,  sso 

Why  haue  ye  than  disdayne  trivia* T~ 

At  poetes,  and  complayne  scripia'  in 

r     *  quadam 

Howe  poetes  do  but  fayne  ?  chartuia  im- 

^r      ,  ,  mortalitatis 

Ie  do  moche  great  outrage,  et   scheduia 

•n  ,.  gratiae    in- 

For  to  disparage  niarcescibi- 

And  to  discorage 

' 


248  A   REPLTCACION,    &C. 

The  fame  matryculate 
Of  poetes  laureate. 

For  if  ye  sadly  loke, 
And  wesely  rede  the  Boke  see 

Of  Good  Aduertysement, 
With  me  ye  must  consent 
And  infallibly  agre 
Of  necessyte, 

Howe  there  is  a  spyrituall, 
And  a  mysteriall, 
And  a  mysticall 
Energia     Effecte  energiall, 

Greece,    La- 
tine   efficax  As  Grekes  do  it  call, 

operatic,  in- 

ternoque       Of  suche  an  industry,  so 

quodamspir- 

itus  impuisu  And  suche  a  pregnacy, 

inop'inabili-      ~ ,,  , 

ter  originata,  Ur  heuenly  inspyracion 
In  laureate  creacyon, 
Of  poetes  commendacion, 

inEnobi^US  That  of  diuyne  myseracion 
agritante  ca-  Qo^  maketh  his  habytacion 

lescimus  illo.  » 

Sodibus     In  poetes  whiche  excelles, 

ffitheriis  spi-     ...  .  ,      ,  .   ,       ., 

ritus  iste  ye-  And  soiourns  with  them  and  dwelles. 

nit.  h  Ovi. 

Dona  Dei,       JL>y  whose  innammacion 
dum,  facun-  Of  spyrituall  instygacion  aso 

dia  praestans,     .      ,    ,. 

Miuiturex  And  diuyne  inspyracion, 
perdue  da-  We  are  kyndled  in  suche  facyon 
Bapt.  Alan.    With  hete  of  the  Holy  Gost, 

Which  is  God  of  myghtes  most, 
That  he  our  penne  dothe  lede, 
And  maketh  in  vs  suche  spede, 


A    REPLYCACION,    &C.  249 

That  forthwith  we  must  nede  "ancfiPigr^ 

With  penne  and  ynke  precede,  roiiy       ie~ 

Sorntyme  for  affection,    ^Lcn* 

Somtyme  for  sadde  dyrection,  390 

Spratymejbr  correction, 

Soratyme  vnder  protection  meacSiimus 

Of  pacient  sufferance,  dterLibet 

"With  sobre  cyrcumstance,  tie.  h.  psai. 

Our  myndes  to  auaunce  ,^o>* 

To  no  raannes  anoyance  ; 

Therfore  no  greuance, 

I  pray  you,  for  to  take, 

In  this  that  I  do  make 

Agaynst  these  frenetykes,  >        100 

Agaynst  these  lunatykes, 

Agaynst  these  sysmatykes, 

Agaynst  these  heretykes, 

No  we  of  late  abiured, 

Most  vnhappely  vred : 

For  be  ye  wele  assured, 

That  frensy  nor  ielousy 

Nor  heresy  wyll  neuer  dye. 

Dixi 

iniquis,  Nolitc  inique  agere  ;  et  delin-     PffiC  P83'' 
quentibus,  Nolite  exaltare  cornu. 

Tantum  pro  tertio. 

De  raritate  poetarum,  deque  gymnoso- 
tarum,  philosophorum,  theologo- 


250  A   KEPLYCACION,    &C. 

rum,  cceterorumque  eruditorum  infi- 
nita  numerositate,  Skel.  L.  epitoma. 

Quae  fiunt  Suntinjiniti,sunt  innumerique  sophistce, 
bus  »  sicm  Sunt  infiniti,  sunt  innumerique  logistce, 
Gag.  &c.  Innumeri  sunt  philosophi,  sunt  theolo- 

gique, 

Sunt  infiniti  doctores,  suntque  magistri 
Innumeri;  sed  suntpauci  rarique  poetce, 
Hinc  omne  est  rarum  carum  :  reor  ergo 

poetas 

Ante  olios  omnes  divino  flamine  flatos. 
Sic  Plato  divinat,  divinat  sicque  So- 

crates ; 
ieriumeivilx    ^c  maffnus  Macedo,  sic  Oaesar,  maxi- 

imum  de  in-  mus  ner0s 

signi  venera- 

tione  poeta-  Romanus.  celebres  semper  coluere  poe- 


Thus  endeth  the  Replicacyon  of 
Skel.  L.  &c. 

i  sodabus]  Qy.  "  sociatos?  " 


END    OF   VOL.    I. 


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